Action This Day

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401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 5-3-44

Weather was cloudy, becoming fair to cloudy and visibility poor.

No flying we done in the morning, and time was spent in cleaning aircraft. At 15.40 hours, the visibility improved, and the Squadron practiced formation with S/Ldr. L.N. Cameron bouncing. Flying was completed at 1700 hours.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
9 Mosquitoes to Duisburg and 1 to Aachen, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 4 Serrate patrols, 49 Stirlings and 17 Halifaxes on Resistance operations. 1 aircraft, believed to be a Halifax, was lost on one of the Resistance flights.

2nd TAF
On the 5th Wg Cdr J.R.D.'Bob' Braham, DSO & Bar, DFC & 2 Bars, now on the staff of 2 Group, utilised the arrangement he had 'to keep his hand in, and borrowed one of 613 Squadron's new Mosquito VIs. He flew to Châteaudun during the afternoon, where he caught He 177 SJ+RL of 3./KG 100 taking off and shot it down in flames.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 405th Fighter Group, in P-47s, arrives in England for service with the Ninth Air Force.

FRANCE: Two hundred seven IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites around St.-Omer and Abbeville.

Two hundred nineteen 2d Bombardment Division B-24s are dispatched against three GAF airdromes in France, but cloud cover over the targets forces 164 to attack four other airdromes, and the rest abort.

Escort for the B-24s is provided by 307 USAAF fighters, of which five are lost in action with four pilots and three are lost in operational accidents with one pilot. One of the missing pilots is Col Henry R. Spicer, the 357th Fighter Group commander, who is shot down and taken prisoner.

VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 16 GAF aircraft over France between 1130 and 1305 hours. 1stLt Spiros N. Pissanos, a P-51 pilot with the 4th Fighter Group’s 334th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Bordeaux at noon. Engine trouble then forces Pissanos to make an emergency landing south of Le Havre, but he is able to evade capture and will return safely to Allied lines on September 9, 1944.

ITALY: Most of the Twelfth Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but XII Air Support Command A-36s attack Formia, and P-40s attack Pontecorvo.

The XII Provisional Troop Carrier Command is formally disbanded.

RAF BASE CHANGES
17 Sqn SAAF (Ventura V) moves to Ramat David
156 Sqn (Lancaster I/III) moves to Upwood
331 Sqn (Spitfire IX/LFIXB) moves to Southend
336 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Bu Amud
612 Sqn (Wellington XIV) moves to Chivenor

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
307 Sqn (Coleby Grange) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXII
692 Sqn (Gravely) flies its first OM in the Mosquito BXVI

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418 Sqn RCAF (Ford – Mosquito FBVI) 6-3-44

Weather-fine; vis. poor, improving to good.

NFT's by "A" and "B" Flights. W/O Sims flew to Dunsfold and return. F/S Williams left to attend a B.A.T. Courses.

S/L C.M. Magwood D.F.C. making a liason tour for training Wing of 3 P.R.C., Bournemouth, visited the Squadron.

Another "Recco" boner: The film of F/L MacFadyen's combat (Feb. 24th at Wurzburg) in which he claimed a Me.410 destroyed reveals twin fins and rudders!

Seven aircraft took off for Flower Operation but were recalled when the operation was cancelled. (Operation was to be from Coltishall) A very interesting series of operations was carried out from Ford. F/O Jones went on an anti-training trip to Bourges and Avord and N. of Bourges encountered a twin-engined aircraft, flying very low. They turned and followed him, and as they identified him as a Wellington, were hit in four places by .303 bullets from his rear turret. They broke off and returned to base justifiably shaken. S/L Kipp, F/O Jasper and F/L Harper had uneventful sorties to Laon Athies, Florennes and St. Trond respectively. Then 1/Lt Luma was plotted, 1 hours overdue, 100-miles away. He finally struggled in one engine, all the way from Pan, on the Spanish frontier. He had destroyed a F.W. 190 there. Lastly, S/L Lisson landed from Alghero, Sardinia. His trip out had been unsuccessful. He made another attempt on the night of the 4-5th, also unsuccessful, but today he succeeded in finding his target, and so completed his tour of 38 trips with 418 Squadron, in triumph. Incidentally, we were amazed at the vast quantities of Italian wines, lemons and other souvenirs which the belly of his Mosquito disgorged.

BOMBER COMMAND
TRAPPES
261 Halifaxes and 6 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups on the first of a series of raids on railway targets in France and Belgium in preparation for the invasion. No aircraft lost.

The attack took place in good visibility and later photographs showed ‘enormous damage’ to railway tracks, rolling stock and installations.

Minor Operations: 15 Mosquitoes to Hannover, 6 to Kiel and 1 to Krefeld, 1 R.C.M. sortie, 30 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.

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2nd TAF
A Mosquito of 21 Squadron failed to return from 'Ramrod 521, last being seen over the Bois Cogerie; it had been shot down by Flak. A Typhoon of 245 Squadron also fell to Flak over Cherbourg; all three aircrew from these two aircraft were lost.

USAAF
FRANCE: Two hundred sixty IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites, Beauvais/Tille Airdrome, and a marshalling yard at Hirson, but 50 other B-26s and A-20s dispatched against a marshalling yard at Creil abort in the face of bad weather.

The 344th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, makes its combat debut.

GERMANY: In the war’s first attack on Berlin by USAAF day bombers, 504 Eighth Air Force B-17s and 226 B-24s are dispatched against industrial targets in and around the city. However, a total of 474 B-17s and 198 B-24s attack a wide variety of secondary targets and targets of opportunity in the Berlin area through breaks in the heavy cloud cover. GAF fighter opposition is concentrated and fierce (the GAF has had days to prepare a massive reception owing to earlier failures by the bombing forces to reach the target), and 53 B-17s and 16 B-24s are downed, 293 B-17s and 54 B-24s are damaged, and five B-17s and one B-24 are written off. Crew losses are 17 killed, 686 missing, and 31 wounded. Fifteen of the B-17s lost are from the 3d Bombardment Division’s 100th Heavy Bombardment Group, the highest one-day toll to date sustained by a single bomber group.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by a record 801 USAAF fighters (86 P-38s, 615 P-47s, and 100 P-51s), of which five P-51s, five P-47s, and one P-38 are lost with their pilots. Maj Henry L. Mills, the commanding officer of the 4th Fighter Group’s 334th Fighter Squadron, brings his personal tally to six confirmed victories when he downs an FW-190 near Brandenburg at 1330 hours, but Mills is forced down in this engagement and captured. And 2dLt Grant M. Turley, a six-victory P-47 ace with the 78th Fighter Group’s 82d Fighter Squadron, is shot down and killed in air-to-air combat over Barenburg.

VIII Fighter Command fighters down a record 81 GAF fighters and attack aircraft along the bomber routes and over Berlin between 1130 and 1500 hours. 2dLt Joseph W. Icard, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 62d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 over Dummer Lake at noon (Icard will be lost two days later in the same area); 1stLt Glenn T. Eagleston, a P-51 pilot with the 354th Fighter Group’s 353d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Burg; and 1stLt Pierce W. McKennon, a P-51 pilot with the 4th Fighter Group’s 335th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Berlin at 1245 hours. (McKennon’s first victory was scored while he was flying with the RAF.)

ITALY: XII Air Support Command A-36s attack motor vehicles and rail cars, and P-40s attack a town and gun emplacements near the Anzio beachhead.

RAF BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Bradwell Bay
168 Sqn (Mustang I) moves to Gatwick
184 Sqn (Hurricane IV) moves to Odiham
263 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Warmwell
486 Sqn RAAF (Typhoon IB) moves to Castle Camps

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
4 Sqn (Sawbridgeworth) flies its first OM’s in the Spitfire PRXI and Mosquito PRXVI
118 Sqn (Detling) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
210 Sqn (Sullom Voe) flies its first OM in the Catalina IV
455 Sqn RAAF (Leuchars) flies its first OM in the Beaufighter TFX

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268 Sqn (Sawbridgeworth – Mustang IA) 7-3-44
Six sections of two were on immediate readiness from 0800 hrs. onward. Six were dispatched on Operational sorties during the day. Three sections led by S/L MANN, and comprising F/L E.D. WOODWARD, F/L A. BREES, D.F.C. F/O W.N. TUELE, F/L R.G. BROWN and P/O W. WILSON were detailed to photograph bridges in the ISIGNY area. Heavy flak was experienced and though excellent photographs were taken F/O W. WILSON was lost. F/O WILSON suffered engine trouble on returning and baled out. He was not picked up by A.S. R. and must be presumed missing. No training flying was possible due to the operational activity, but P/O B.F.N. RACHINGER collected aircraft "O" from NORTH WEALD. No ground training programme possible for the same reason.

ADDENDUM – Mustang IA FD 359. Pilot F/O W. Wilson KIA. Buried in Bayeux Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
LE MANS
304 aircraft – 242 Halifaxes, 56 Lancasters, 6 Mosquitoes – of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost. The target was cloud-covered but heavy damage to the railway yards was believed to have been caused.

A report from Le Mans shows that the attack was successful. Approximately 300 bombs fell in the railway yards; 250 wagons were destroyed, many railway lines were cut, a turntable was put out of action and 6 locomotives were hit. A store of railway sleepers was burnt out. It was impossible for Bomber Command to place every bomb inside these railway targets and inevitably some bombs fell among French civilian areas. This was the great anxiety for Allied commanders in ordering these raids. On this occasion, only 30 bombs fell outside the immediate target area, killing 31 French people and injuring 45. Anti-British slogans which appeared on walls in Le Mans may have been sincere, written in the immediate aftermath of the raid, or may have been inspired by the Germans.

Minor Operations: 15 Mosquitoes to 4 German targets, 6 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Serrate patrol, 51 aircraft on Resistance operations, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

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2nd TAF

401 Squadron escorted 108 B-26s to Creil marshalling yards, where two Fw 190s were reported at ground-level, and were claimed shot down by Flg Off W.T.'Grissle' Klersy and Flt Lt J.E.Sheppard. The pilots appear to have been Uffz Hans Pentzlen and Rainer Adolph of 12./JG 2, the former killed and the latter wounded. Bf 109s then attacked, and two of these were claimed damaged by the Canadians.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 409th Light Bombardment Group, in A-20s, arrives in England for service with the IX Bomber Command. The 409th has been trained as a night-bomber unit, but it arrives in England with a shortage of night-qualified bombardier-navigators that must be made good by way of personnel transfers from operational B-26 units that are already experiencing severe personnel shortages.

The 458th Heavy Bombardment Group is assigned to the 2d Bombardment Division’s 96th Combat Bombardment Wing.

FRANCE: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack the Toulon naval base.

A total of 112 IX Bomber Command B-26s and 18 A-20s attack military installations near Creil-sur-Mer and Greny, V-weapons sites along the Channel coast, and various targets of opportunity. One hundred fifty other B-26s dispatched against a marshalling yard at Creil are recalled in the face of bad weather.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a defended town, marshalling yards at four locations, and the Fabrica di Roma, Orvieto, and Viterbo airdromes; Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack Rome’s Ostiense marshalling yards; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Littoria; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a railroad station; and XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a railroad station near Civitavecchia, gun emplacements around Littoria Airdrome, communications targets, and a train.

RAF BASE CHANGES
56 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Scorton
218 Sqn (Stirling III) moves to Woolfox Lodge
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Bolt Head

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
10 Sqn (Melbourne) flies its last OM in the Halifax II
29 Sqn (Drem) flies its last OM in the Mosquito NFXII
105 Sqn (Marham) flies its last OM in the Mosquito BIV
350 Sqn (Peterhead) starts it second tour of duty in the Spitfire VB
504 Sqn (Hornchurch) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

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403 Sqn RCAF (Kenley – Spitfire LFIXB) 8-3-44
Two shows today and also 21 non-operational sorties. We were escort wing on the morning do and this afternoon carried out eight man Ranger. No enemy aircraft were seen. On the Ranger we lost two pilots, F/O J.H. Ballantyne DFM and F/L. D. Goldberg our adjutant. P/O. J. Preston's aircraft was severely damage by flak, but he managed to land at Friston. P/O./ Ballantyne's a/c was seen to hit the ground and explode and very little hope is held for him. He has been posted on missing believed killed. F/L. D. Goldberg reported that he was going to attempt a crash-landing. He has been posted as missing and we all hope he will be walking back to see us one of these days. <see below>

ADDENDUM – Spitfire LFIXB MJ876 KH-? Pilot: F/O JH Ballantyne RCAF DFM KIA. Shot down by flak over Everaux. He is buried in the Communal Cemetery, St. Andre-de-L’ure, France.

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Jim Ballantyne had achieved success over Malta during 1942. Commissioned and with a DFM, he joined 403 Squadron in January 1944 as a Flight Lieutenant, but on 8 March 1944 was shot down and killed near St André de l'Eure by intense light Flak

Spitfire LFIXB MJ356 KH-?. Pilot F/L D Goldberg RCAF EVADED. See wishes do come true.

2nd TAF
While escorting B-26s over Holland 332 Squadron, one of five squadrons involved, encountered a dozen Fw 190s of L./JG 26, Sgt R.Hoiland being shot down over Soesterberg by Hptm Karl Borris, the Gruppenkommandeur. Hoiland became a POW.

Eight more Spitfires from 403 Squadron flew a 'Ranger' over St André, where intense Flak claimed two aircraft and damaged a third. One of these lost was the very experienced Flg Off J.H.Ballantyne, DFM, yet another Malta veteran, who was killed when his aircraft hit the ground and blew up. Flt Lt D.Goldberg got down alive, evaded capture, and ultimately returned.



USAAF
ENGLAND: The 303d Fighter Wing headquarters arrives in England for eventual duty with the Ninth Air Force.

GERMANY: Three hundred twenty Eighth Air Force B-17s and 150 B-24s attack the Berlin/Erkner aircraft-industry complex with nearly 1,000 tons of bombs, and 36 B-17s and 33 B-24s attack targets of opportunity in the Berlin area. Twenty-eight B-17s and nine B-24s are lost, of which most of the former result from a massed GAF fighter assault on the leading B-17 formation, the 3d Bombardment Division’s 45th Combat Bombardment Wing.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by a record 891 USAAF fighters, of which 18 are lost with their pilots and 16 are written off. The 352d and 355th Fighter groups, which are transitioning from P-47s to P-51s, each mount mixed formations of both types.

VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 77 GAF fighters and attack aircraft over Germany between 1230 and 1620 hours. Capt Joseph H. Bennett, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 61st Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 and two Bf-109s over Steinhuder Lake between 1245 and 1300 hours; and three 4th Fighter Group P-51 pilots achieve ace status near Berlin at 1350 hours: Maj James A. Clark, Jr., the commanding officer of the 334th Fighter Squadron, when he downs a Bf-109; 1stLt John T. Godfrey, of the 336th Fighter Squadron, when he downs two Bf-109s and shares in the downing of a third; and 1stLt Nicholas Megura, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, when he downs a Bf-109 and an FW-190.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Orte and the rail line between Orte and Fabrica di Roma; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack Rome’s Tiburtina marshalling yard and port facilities at Porto Santo Stefano; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a castle, a bridge, gun emplacements, and a road junction; XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements and a road junction near Rome and strafe motor vehicles on the Appian Way; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack gun emplacements in the battle area.

NETHERLANDS: IX Bomber Command B-26s attack Volkel and Soesterberg airdromes in separate morning and afternoon missions, respectively.

RAF BASE CHANGES
91 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Drem
164 Sqn (Hurricane IV) moves to Acklington
308 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Lianbedr

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
350 Sqn (Hornchurch) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

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19 Sqn (Gravesend – Mustang III) 9-3-44
Sqdn again airborne at 11.35 hrs to act as fighter cover to Fortresses. bombing Berlin. Rendezvous made at Celle near Hanover.

Climbed from base to 18000’. Cloud 10/10 at 2000’. Met Forts who were some distance off course. No E/A engaged. F/O. Saville, who was hit by flak called up and said his oil pressure was gone and was baling out. The Sqdn deeply regrets the loss of one of it's new and popular members, and we all sincerely hope that he got down safely and is O.K. The remainder landed at base at 1600 hours.

ADDENDUM – Mustang III FZ178 QV-? Pilot: F/O DE Saville POW. Hit by flak north of Hannover.

BOMBER COMMAND
MARIGNANE
44 Lancasters of 5 Group attacked an aircraft factory at Marignane near Marseilles and carried out an accurate raid in bright moonlight. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to Düsseldorf, 2 Serrate patrols. No losses.

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USAAF
ENGLAND: Because of ongoing combat-crew shortages resulting from physical exhaustion and war neurosis, Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, directs that IX Bomber Command B-26 and A-20 groups are to dispatch no more than 36 bombers apiece on normal operational missions, and 54 apiece on all-out missions.

GERMANY: Briefed for specific targets in the Berlin area, 339 Eighth Air Force B-17s are forced by weather conditions to execute an area attack with 795 tons of bombs. 2d Bombardment Division B-24 formations, which are also briefed for Berlin, attack various antiaircraft concentrations at Brunswick, Hannover, and Nienburg after the lead pathfinder experiences an equipment failure. Eight heavy bombers are downed.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 808 USAAF fighters, which account for no enemy aircraft downed.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack the port facilities at Porto Santo Stefano and a bridge; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a railroad station; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack several gun emplacements near the battle area.

RAF BASE CHANGES
322 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Acklington

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
132 Sqn (Castletown) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB

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207 Sqn (Spilsby – Lancaster III) 10-3-44
Weather: Fine. 11 aircraft detailed for operations. 11 took off to attack primary target Clermont-Ferrand in Southern France. 1 aircraft (S/Ldr. Pike B Flight Commander and crew, F/Lt. Jimmy Moore Gunnery leader) failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III ND513 EM-R. Crew: S/L DGH Pike MiD KIA, Sgt NC New KIA, F/O AA Boad KIA, P/O EH Moulden KIA, F/S RA Wheeler KIA, Sgt J Hesketh KIA, Sgt AJ Little KIA, F/L JG Moore KIA. T/o 1942 Spilsby. Crashed in the target area. All rest in Des Carmes-Dechaux Communal Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
5 GROUP RAIDS
102 Lancasters of 5 Group carried out moonlight raids on 4 factories in France – 33 aircraft to the Michelin works at Clermont-Ferrand, 30 to an aircraft factory at Châteauroux, 23 to Ossun and 16 (from 617 Squadron) to the La Ricamerie factory. All targets were successfully bombed. 1 Lancaster lost from the Clermont-Ferrand raid.

Minor Operations: 29 Mosquitoes to Duisburg, 93 aircraft on Resistance operations. No losses.

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USAAF
ENGLAND: The Ninth Air Force, which has been supporting the Combined Bomber Offensive through the loan of many of its assets to the Eighth Air Force, is formally authorized by Headquarters, AEAF, to shift the bulk of its efforts against preinvasion tactical targets within range of its bases in England.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack a marshalling yard at Littoria; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack Rome’s Tiburtina marshalling yard and a rail bridge at Orvieto; and XII Air Support Command A-36s attack troop positions, tanks, gun emplacements, and railroad targets.

RAF BASE CHANGES
118 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Skeabrae
165 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Culmhead
222 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Hornchurch
350 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Hawkinge
504 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Castletown

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199 Sqn (Lakenheath –Stirling III) 11-3-44
9 aircraft detailed for gardening operations in BAY OF BISCAY. 7 aircraft reached and located target and laid mines successfully, 1 aircraft failed to locate target and jettisoned all mines. One aircraft (Pilot: F/Sgt. ALLEN) failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Stirling III LJ480 EX-S. Crew: F/S KF Allen RAAF KIA, Sgt A Tym KIA, F/S TGD Mills RAAF KIA, Sgt CR West KIA, Sgt WN Ebsworth KIA, Sgt J Clark KIA, Sgt RH Cantwell KIA. T/o 1911 Lakenheath. Crashed near Lake Hourten at Naujac-sur-Mer, and roughly midway between Lesparre and Hourtin. All are buried along side a seaman from HMCS FRASER, sunk on 25 June 1940, in Naujac-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
47 Mosquitoes to 6 German cities, with the largest raid being by 20 aircraft to Hamburg, 4 Serrate patrols, 43 aircraft minelaying in the Frisians and off Brest and Biscay ports, 22 aircraft on Resistance operations, 21 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

2nd TAF
2 Squadron followed 414 Squadron to Dunsfold to undertake the Naval Spotting Course. 268 Squadron would do the same later in the month. At 135 Airfield, 349(Belgian) Squadron arrived to take the place of 350 Squadron, also taking over the latter's Spitfire IXs as this unit departed for Peterhead. The day before, 222 Squadron had returned from the north to join this Airfield, which was now led by Wg Cdr P.J.Simpson, DFC, who had taken over from Roy Marples on the latter's posting to 145 Airfield. On 12th, 602 Squadron also returned south after its time in the north of the country, rejoining 125 Airfield.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 53d Troop Carrier Wing begins operations with the IX Troop Carrier Command; the 441st Troop Carrier Group arrives in England for service with the IX Troop Carrier Command; and the 394th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, arrives in England for service with the Ninth Air Force.

The VIII Fighter Command’s 361st Fighter Group is reassigned to the 67th Fighter Wing.

The newly arrived 467th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, is assigned to the 2d Bombardment Division’s 96th Combat Bombardment Wing.

FRANCE: Thirty-four B-24s of the 2d Bombardment Division’s 44th and 93d Heavy Bombardment groups attack a V-weapons site at Wizernes with 127 tons of bombs. Escort was to have been provided by 213 P-47s of the 352d and 353d Fighter groups, but the fighters, which abort in the face of bad weather, undertake low-level sweeps resulting in the loss of three P-47s and two of the pilots.

Of 114 IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched against V-weapons sites in northern France, 61 are able to attack the assigned targets and 53 abort in the face of bad weather.

Thirty-six 352d Fighter Group P-47s equipped with a single 500-pound bomb apiece attack the submarine pens at St.-Nazaire en masse at wave-top height from the direction of the Bay of Biscay, then make their withdrawal across the Brittany Peninsula to the English Channel. The German defenses are caught by surprise by the wave-top skip-bombing attack, but results are unknown. During the withdrawal, P-47 pilots strafe targets of opportunity all across Brittany. Losses are one P-47 and its pilot missing, one not recovered), two P-47s damaged by enemy fire, and one P-47 written off after crash-landing at a base in the U.K.

Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the harbor and naval base at Toulon. While escorting this mission, 1stLt Richard J. Lee, a P-38 pilot with the 1st Fighter Group’s 94th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Toulon between 1150 and 1220 hours. In all, seven GAF fighters are downed on the Toulon mission by 1st Fighter Group P-38 pilots.

GERMANY: All 124 Eighth Air Force B-17s dispatched attack marshalling yards at Munster and nearby targets of opportunity. One B-17 is lost.

Escort is provided by 90 P-47s and 50 P-51s from three fighter groups. Two 355th Fighter Group P-51s and their pilots are lost, but no enemy aircraft are downed.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the Iesi Airdrome and marshalling yards at two locations, and Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Padua. While on the Padua mission, Capt William A. Rynne, a P-47 pilot with the 325th Fighter Group’s 317th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near the target at about 1230 hours. In all, 325th Fighter Group P-47s pilots down 11 GAF fighters around Padua between 1120 and 1230 hours, but three P-47s are lost.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack marshalling yards at three locations, and XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack rail and tactical targets in and around the battle areas.

RAF BASE CHANGES
2 Sqn (Mustang IA) moves to Dunsfold
41 Sqn (Spitfire XII) moves to Friston
132 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Detling
349 Sqn (LFIXB) moves to Hornchurch

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
94 Sqn (El Adem South) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VC
105 Sqn (Marham) flies its first OM in the Mosquito BXVI
178 Sqn (El Adem) flies its first OM in the Liberator VI
184 Sqn (Eastchurch) flies its last OM in the Hurricane IV
349 Sqn (Hornchurch) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB
504 Sqn (Castletown) flies its first OM and second tour of duty in the Spitfire VB
614 Sqn (Celone) flies its first OM in the Halifax II

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91 Sqn (Drem –Spitfire XIV) 12-3-44

A very full days flying. Air to Air exercises for maximum numbers of pilots in each Flight. F/Sgt. Sayer and F/Sgt. Ritchie on Readiness after tea, are scrambled to try to 'home's a Liberator. Ritchie lands separately but nothing is heard from F/Sgt. Sayer. Later we hear a Spit has crashed 20 miles south of Turnhouse. No trace of its pilot is found, but he might be in the cockpit, the plane went in a long way.

ADDENDUM – F/S CE Sayer's body was found in the cockpit the next day.

BOMBER COMMAND
14 Mosquitoes, 11 to Aachen and 3 to Duisburg; none lost.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The 474th Fighter Group, in P-38s, arrives in England for service with the Ninth Air Force. It is the Ninth Air Force’s first P-38 unit.

FRANCE: Despite bad weather, 52 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack the St.-Pol/Siracourt Airdrome or nearby targets of opportunity.

RAF BASE CHANGES
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Harrowbeer

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
47 Sqn (Gambut III) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter TFX
91 Sqn (Drem) flies its first OM in the Spitfire XIV
515 Sqn (Little Snoring) flies its first OM in the Mosquito FBVI

[warshipbuilder]

419 Sqn RCAF (Middleton St. George – Halifax II) 13-3-44
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the Marshalling yards at LE MANS. This was a particularly effective sortie, although the P.F.F. appeared to be late, and some crews were obliged to do two or three bombing runs over the target before bombing, to ensure accuracy. Very slight enemy resistance was encountered, and all aircraft returned safely to base. A heavy bomb-load was carried on this mission, and as the aircraft were using the short runway, aircraft "Q", pilot P/O Barclay, hit a block-house at the end of the runway, ripping off part of the bomb-doors, the U blister, and the tail wheel. The fin of one of the 1,000 lb. bombs was also removed by this contact. Not knowing the exact amount of damage sustained by the aircraft, but being aware that his undercarriage was unserviceable, the pilot proceeded out to sea, jettisoned his bombs, and attempted to make a crash-landing. This developed into an overshoot, and the aircraft crashed, being a complete "write-off", fortunately without injury to the crew, as the aircraft slid across the perimeter track. An M.T. vehicle was wrecked and the driver injured.

BOMBER COMMAND
LE MANS
213 Halifaxes and 9 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 1 Halifax lost. The local report shows that the Maroc Station and two nearby factories were severely damaged, with many lines being cut and 15 locomotives and 800 wagons being destroyed. 48 civilians were killed and 57 injured and many Germans were killed but no figure is available.

Minor Operations: 39 Mosquitoes to 5 German targets, with the largest raid being by 26 aircraft to Frankfurt, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 4 Serrate patrols, 25 Stirlings and 10 Halifaxes minelaying off French Channel ports, 19 aircraft on Resistance operations, 21 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Stirling minelayer lost.

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USAAF
FRANCE: A total of 271 Eighth Air Force B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 213 VIII Fighter Command P-47s, are dispatched against V-weapons sites around Pas-de-Calais, but bad weather is encountered and only seven B-17s attack a target of opportunity near Poix with a total of 21 tons of bombs. Two B-17s are downed by enemy fire, 74 are damaged, and one is written off. Crew losses are six killed, 20 missing, and one wounded.

Of 77 IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched, 40 attack V-weapons sites and 37 abort in the face of bad weather.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at Perugia and Spoleto, and chokepoints around Terni; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack rail lines and bridges between Florence and Rome, and a defended town; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack rail targets; and P-40s attack gun emplacements near the Anzio beachhead and a supply dump.

[warshipbuilder]

401 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 14-3-44
Weather was fair to cloudy, becoming generally cloudy from the west, in two variable broken layers, at 3000 ft. and 6-8,000 feet. Due to this cloud, no operational flying was done, but considerable practice flying was carried out, including Squadron formations and cine-gun. F/L Barry Needham left us today to join his old Squadron (412) in order to take up the post of Flight Commander in "B" Flight with that unit.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
30 Mosquitoes to Düsseldorf, 2 Mosquitoes on R.C.M. sorties, 3 Halifaxes on Resistance operations. No losses.

Bomber Command had carried out operations on 15 nights since 29 February, flying 2,699 sorties but only losing 10 aircraft, 0.4 percent of the forces involved. This was a most unusual run of light losses for this period of the war but the operations contained only 1 major raid to Germany.

USAAF
ENGLAND: The IX Fighter Command’s new 366th and 368th Fighter groups (both in P-47s) are declared operational and placed on full combat status.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at Orte and Terni; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard and a chemical plant; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a German Army tank repair shop; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-47s attack Ostia and nearby railroad stations; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements around the Anzio beachhead

RAF BASE CHANGES
223 Sqn (Baltimore IV) moves to Biferno
313 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Southend

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
164 Sqn (Acklington) flies its last OM in the Hurricane IV

[warshipbuilder]

405 Sqn RCAF (Gransden Lodge – Lancaster III) 15-3-44
Weather: Fair or fine all day. Slight mist or haze from 0000 to 1200 and 1700 to 2400 hours. Winds N.W. backing S.S.W., Light.

Flying Training: Nil.

OPERATIONS: BOMBING ATTACK ON “STUTTGART” 16 A/C DETAILED (ONE MISSING)
Fifteen Lancasters attacked primary, dropping 4 T.I. red, 12 flares green/red stars, 20 x 1,000 M.C., 45 x 2,000 H.C., and 6 x 4,000 H.C., between 19,500 and 18,500 feet from 2306 to 2340 hours. The weather varied from 6 to 10/10, mostly thin stratus cloud. Reports vary from 7 to 14,000 feet. Most of the aircraft arrived late on the target. Only one aircraft dropped green/red flares and one aircraft visually backed up the T.I. red. The raid was very scattered, and the built-up area which was recognised by several crews, was not reported as heavily attacked, and the crews generally report a poor raid. The flak was moderate and in barrage form from 16 to 22,000 feet and searchlights negligible. Fifteen aircraft attempted photographs.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III ME622 LQ-H. Crew: F/L AB Fyfe RCAF KIA, Sgt BE Galbraith RCAF KIA, F/L DB Quayle RCAF POW, WO2 HB Searles RCAF POW, P/O JH Dempsey KIA, F/O KA Cole RCAF KIA, F/O WS Edwards RCAF POW. T/o 1931 Gransden Lodge. Shot down by Uffz Heinz Amsberg (3rd victory) 7./NJG1, crashed 30 km S. Stuttgart at 2336. Those who perished are buried in Dürnbach War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
STUTTGART
863 aircraft – 617 Lancasters, 230 Halifaxes, 16 Mosquitoes. The German fighter controller split his forces into 2 parts. The bomber force flew over France nearly as far as the Swiss frontier before turning north-east to approach Stuttgart. This delayed the German fighters contacting the bomber stream but, when the German fighters did arrive, just before Stuttgart was reached, the usual fierce combats ensued. 37 aircraft – 27 Lancasters, 10 Halifaxes – were lost, 4.3 percent of the force. 2 of the Lancasters force-landed in Switzerland.

Adverse winds delayed the opening of the attack and the same winds may have been the cause of the Pathfinder marking falling back well short of the target, despite the clear weather conditions. Some of the early bombing fell in the centre of Stuttgart but most of it fell in open country south-west of the city.

The Akademie was damaged in the centre of Stuttgart and some housing was destroyed in the south-western suburbs. 88 people were killed and 203 injured.

AMIENS
140 aircraft – 94 Halifaxes, 38 Stirlings, 8 Mosquitoes. 2 Halifaxes and 1 Stirling lost. The Bomber Command report claims much damage to the railway yards but few details are available from Amiens, where 18 French civilians were killed.

WOIPPY
22 Lancasters of 5 Group to an aero-engine factory at Woippy, near Metz. 10/10ths cloud caused the attack to be abandoned before any bombs were dropped. No aircraft lost.

SUPPORT AND MINOR OPERATIONS
17 Mosquitoes to 5 German targets and 10 Mosquitoes to airfields in Holland, 2 R.C.M. sorties, 11 Serrate patrols, 2 Stirlings minelaying off Texel, 31 aircraft on Resistance operations, 18 O.T.U. sorties. 1 Serrate Mosquito lost.

Total effort for the night: 1,116 sorties, 41 aircraft (3.7 percent) lost. The number of sorties flown on this night was a new record.

Operation as planned:

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Operation Map

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2nd TAF

The Canadians of 126 and 127 Airfields provided cover for 72 B-26s bombing Aulnoy marshalling yards during the morning. 401 Squadron lost one Spitfire reportedly to engine failure between Albert and Cambrai, but over the latter area, six Fw 190s were seen apparently attempting to land, the runway blocked by an Me 410. The pilots at once dived to the attack, claiming four of these fighters shot down before obtaining some hits on the Me 410. In fact, the Focke-Wulfs, aircraft of 7/JG 26, had been forming up before flying to Rheine, and had received no warning of the approach of the Spitfires. Lt Hans Mayer, Uffz Kurt Stahnke and Uffz Rudolf Georgi were all shot down, only the latter surviving after he managed to bale out of his fighter. Although Flg Off Sherk had reported engine failure, Fw Boehm was credited with having shot down his Spitfire.

In the afternoon 107 Squadron undertook its first operational sorties with Mosquitoes, attacking a 'Noball' site near Preuseville. Flt Lt D.M.Campbell's aircraft was hit by debris and he was obliged to crash-land on return to Lasham.

USAAF
BELGIUM: One hundred eighteen IX Bomber Command B-26s attack Chievres Airdrome and the marshalling yards at two locations.

In an afternoon test of Oboe guidance equipment turned over by the Eighth Air Force, ten IX Bomber Command B-26s attack Coxyde Airdrome with poor results.

ENGLAND: As part of the preinvasion training syllabus, 50 IX Troop Carrier Command transports conduct Operation THRUST, a combined training mission with the British 6th Airborne Division. In general, in training exercises carried out through the entire month, USAAF troop carrier units are found to be deficient in virtually all requirements for airborne operations, including the dropping of troops and supplies and the release of gliders. A more rigorous training syllabus will be introduced in April.

FRANCE: During the afternoon, seven 366th Fighter Group P-47s conduct the Ninth Air Force’s first dive-bombing mission when they attack St.-Valery-en-Caux Airdrome with one 250-pound bomb apiece.

GERMANY: One hundred eighty-five 3d Bombardment Division B-17s and 145 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack aircraft-industry targets in Brunswick.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 588 USAAF P-38s and P-47s, including 86 from the Ninth Air Force. Five fighters are lost with their pilots.

VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 35 GAF fighters over Germany between 1015 and 1230 hours. 1stLt Joseph L. Egan, Jr., a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 63d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 over Nienburg at 1105 hours; and 2dLt Frank W. Klibbe, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 51st Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 near Bernburg at 1320 hours.

ITALY: In the largest air operation in the theater to date, more than 1,000 Allied warplanes level Monte Cassino monastery and nearby German Army defensive positions with 1,200 tons of bombs. The Twelfth and Fifteenth air forces provide 275 heavy bombers and nearly 200 medium bombers, which drop more than 2,000 thousand-pound bombs. Although the Benedictine monastery is utterly demolished, the ground attack fails.

Although no official start date is ever set, Allied warplanes in Italy effectively commence Operation STRANGLE, the aerial interdiction of the supply network in use by German Army forces in Italy. The wide-ranging operation will continue into late May and will eventually result in an 80 percent reduction in the German Army’s ability to supply its combat divisions in Italy.

NETHERLANDS: As part of a test to increase the effectiveness of the P-47 as a fighter-bomber, two 353d Fighter Group P-47s equipped with two 1,000-pound bombs apiece attack a barge in the Zuider Zee.

RAF BASE CHANGES
47 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Amrya South
164 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Thorney Island
183 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Manston
193 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Thorney Island
219 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Honiley
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Acklington
305 Sqn (Non-Op) mvoes to Lianbedr
308 Sqn (Spirfire LFIXB) moves to Northolt

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
429 Sqn RCAF (Leeming) flies its first OM in the Halifax III

[warshipbuilder]

412 Sqn RCAF (Biggin Hill – Spitfire LFIXB) 16-3-44
This afternoon Ramrod 661 was carried out by the following pilots: W/O Guillot, L.N., F/O P.T. Murray, F/O A. J. Alliston, F/O R. P. Vancher, F/O A.B. Wheeler, F/O D. C. Laubman, F/O T.M. Saunderson, F/Lt. W.B. Needham, F/O P.M. Charron, F/Lt. E.C. Likeness and F/O J.P. Laureye. In the morning, practice formation flying was carried out. On the above operation, F/O T.M. Saunderson was forced to bale out one mile off the French Coast in the Somme estuary due to engine trouble. He was picked up by A. S. R. Walrus none the worse for the experience. F/O D. C. Laubman stayed with him until the A.S.R. Walrus arrived and was airborne 2 1/2 hours.

BOMBER COMMAND
AMIENS
130 aircraft – 81 Halifaxes, 41 Stirlings, 8 Mosquitoes. No aircraft lost. The Bomber Command report again reported sucessful bombing. Amiens suffered 18 civilians killed and at least 14 injured.

Clermont-Ferrand
21 Lancasters of 5 Group, mostly from 617 Squadron, carried out a successful precision attack on the Michelin tyre factory. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 8 Mosquitoes to Cologne and 1 to Duisburg (only Cologne was bombed), 2 R.C.M. sorties, 2 Serrate patrols, 3 Stirlings minelaying off the Dutch coast. No losses.

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2nd TAF
The 16th proved to be a big day for the Typhoons of 121 Airfield as Wg Cdr Charles Green led 174, 175 and 245 Squadrons on a sweep into France during the afternoon. Near Paris a Ju 188 was seen about to land, and was shot down in flames by Plt Off W.Cross of 175 Squadron, whilst a second was strafed on the ground and claimed damaged. Cross's aircraft was then hit by Flak and he crash-landed south of Fontainebleu, becoming a prisoner. 245 Squadron's pilots then spotted two more aircraft on the ground at Maintenon and claimed these destroyed, one of them being identified as a LeO 451.

A small single-engined aircraft believed to be a Bf 108 was then seen, towing a target drogue, and this was shot down by Flt Lt H.Davies of 175 Squadron. The squadrons then turned north and in the Rambouillet area a number of small trainer aircraft appeared head-on, these being identified as Ar 96s; two were claimed shot down and one damaged by pilots of 174 Squadron. During these actions one of 245 Squadron's aircraft was shot down by Flak south of Etampes. Flg Off C.E.Austin was killed, whilst one of 175 Squadron's was damaged and its pilot wounded.

USAAF
GERMANY: Four hundred one Eighth Air Force B-17s attack Augsburg; 64 Eighth Air Force B-17s attack targets of opportunity at Ulm and Gessertshausen; 197 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack Friedrichshafen; and 13 B-24s attack targets of opportunity. Eighteen B-17s and five B-24s are lost with a total of 217 crewmen, 179 heavy bombers damaged, and seven crewmen killed.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by a record 868 USAAF fighters, including 237 from the Ninth Air Force. Ten escorts are lost with nine pilots.

VIII Fighter Command escort pilots down 75 GAF fighters along the bomber routes between 1030 and 1335 hours. Capt Glendon V. Davis, a P-51 pilot with the 357th Fighter Group’s 364th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 and shares in the downing of a Bf-110 over Ulm between 1130 and 1145 hours; and Capt Jack R. Warren, a P-51 pilot with the 357th Fighter Group’s 364th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 and two Bf-110s near Augsberg between 1205 and 1215 hours. (Warren will be shot down and killed on March 18.)

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack German Army troop concentrations; Twelfth Air Force medium bombers and XII Air Support Command aircraft attack gun emplacements in the Cassino battle area; and XII Air Support Command fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements around the Anzio beachhead area.

RAF BASE CHANGES
40 Sqn SAAF TR (Spitfire IX) moves to Lago
129 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Heston
609 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Tangmere

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
118 Sqn (Skeabrae) flies its first OM and starts its second tour of duty in the Spitfire VB
206 Sqn (Lagens) flies its last OM in the Fortress IIA
219 Sqn (Honiley) flies its first OM in the Mosquito NFXVII

[warshipbuilder]

341 (FF) Sqn (Perranporth – Spitfire LFIXB) 17-3-44
Thick fog covered the aerodrome in the morning. 4 Spitfires led by S/Chef Bruno took off at 14.17 hours flying at '0' foot from the Lizard, climbing to 8,000 feet on reaching Points de Chevres, sweeping the area without encountering any activity, light flak was experienced. The aircraft returned to base, touching down at 16.00 hours. 8 Spitfires led by Capt. Boudier took off at 15.50 hours, flying at sea level till Pointe St Mathieu was reached, they climbed to 12,000 feet, descending again to 'o' feet near Guennou. Lt Rastel attacked a machine gun post, no return fire, or results seen. Crossing out at Perapoder, where some accurate light flak was encountered. About 41/2 miles NW, of Landunes, the aircraft of Sgt/Chef Fry was seen to hit the sea and catch fire, it is not known whether this was due to flak. Capt Boudier climbed and gave a fix, but nothing was seen on searching, the aircraft returned to base, touching down at 17.30 hours, no enemy aircraft seen.

ADDENDUM – Spitfire LFIXB MJ602 NL-? Pilot: S/Chef DP Fry KIA.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
28 Mosquitoes to Cologne and 2 to Aachen, 1 Mosquito on R.C.M. sortie. No losses.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s are dispatched to attack several Bf-109 component factories near Vienna, at Fischamend Markt and Schwechat. Weather forces 125 B-24s bound for Fischamend Markt to abort, and the 192 B-24s bound for Schwechat drop 379 tons of bombs through solid clouds simply by estimating their time of arrival over the target. Miraculously, many of the bombs strike an industrial area.

FRANCE: Seventy IX Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Creil.

The VIII Fighter Command dispatches 135 P-47s from the 78th, 353d, 359th, and 361st Fighter groups to deliver low-level strafing attacks against GAF airdromes in France. Weather disrupts several of the planned attacks, but all four groups do end up delivering attacks of one sort or another, at a loss of two 78th Fighter Group P-47s and their pilots. One of those lost is 1stLt Peter E. Pompetti, a five-victory P-47 ace with the 78th Fighter Group’s 84th Fighter Squadron, who is shot down by flak and captured while strafing a GAF airdrome near Paris.

RAF BASE CHANGES
198 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Tangmere
208 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Trigno

[warshipbuilder]

427 Sqn RCAF (Leeming – Halifax III) 18-3-44
Weather: Cloudy with intermittent rain at noon and dusk. Visibility three to six miles at first improving to ten to fifteen miles during morning.

Operations were scheduled for this date and fourteen aircraft were provided by the Squadron, the target being FRANKFURT All aircraft took off and twelve successfully bombed the target and returned to this country. Two aircraft failed to return from this operation, they were piloted by F/O T.W. COOPER (G - GEORGE) and Z - ZEBRA, piloted by CAN-R156049 SGT MILLER, W.C. Crews reported the target to be covered with haze thus making visibility poor. P.F.F. was good although route markers were very poor. Searchlights were ineffective though due to the haze. Large explosions were seen and although there were a few scattered fires the raid was well concentrated. All aircraft landed away from base. "V" VICTOR piloted by R141414 F/S COATHUP saw a little real action while making the bombing run the Rear Gunnar sighted an ME.109 on the port quarter, down at 400 yds. Enemyaircraftcame in climbing towards the aircraft. Combat evasion was "Corkscrew port" and the rear gunner fired a short burst while in the corkscrew as the fighter broke away at 200 yards to starboard up and was not seen again. Resume course was given after fighter broke away. Enemy aircraft did not open fire. All aircraft diverted to Bury St. Edmunds.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III HX279 ZL-Z. Crew: Sgt WC Miller RCAF POW, Sgt GA Ritchie KIA, F/O AH Mildon RCAF KIA, Sgt RA Dumas RCAF KIA, F/O RE O’Heare RCAF KIA, Sgt E Sawyer POW, Sgt RC Gallaugher RCAF KIA.T/O 1915 Leeming. Shot down by Hptm Gerhard Friedrich 1./NJG6 at Priest near Trier, NW Kaiserslautern at 2230. Those who died are buried at Choloy War Cemetery.

Halifax III LW551 ZL-G. Crew: F/O TW Cooper RCAF KIA, Sgt L Preston POW, F/O WA Wright RCAF POW, F/O CA Cawson RCAF POW, Sgt TF Muncaster POW, F/S DB Dowker RCAF POW, Sgt PA Clare POW. T/o 1905 Leeming. Shot down by Uffz Willi Paulus (1st victory) 6./JG300 20 km WSW Frankfurt at 2205. F/O Cooper rests in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Sadly, Sgt Preston became ill with a stomach complaint and following an abdominal operation he developed peritonitis and died on 11 May 1945, just as Allied forces were liberating Barth. He is buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery at Berlin.

BOMBER COMMAND
FRANKFURT
846 aircraft – 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitoes. The German fighter force was again split. One part was lured north by the Heligoland mining operation but the second part waited in Germany and met the bomber stream just before the target was reached, although cloud made it difficult for these fighters to achieve much success. 22 aircraft – 12 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters – were lost, 2.6 percent of the force.

The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and this led to heavy bombing of eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing were scattered but this was almost inevitable with such a large force; new crews were usually allocated to the final waves. Extensive destruction was caused in Frankfurt. The local report gives a long list of ‘cultural buildings’, including the Opera House and the preserved medieval quarter, destroyed. Most of the report consists of statistics: 5,495 houses, 99 industrial firms, 412 small businesses, 56 public buildings – all destroyed or seriously damaged; many other buildings were lightly damaged. 421 civilians were killed and 55,500 were bombed out. A military train was hit and 20 soldiers in it were killed and 80 wounded but this may have been by the action of a Fighter Command Intruder aircraft; the Frankfurt report says that the train was shot up by cannon-fire.

DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
17 Mosquitoes to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, 98 aircraft on minelaying diversion in the Heligoland area, 11 Mosquitoes on a diversion raid to Kassel, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 13 Serrate patrols. No aircraft were lost and the Serrate Mosquitoes claimed 3 Ju 88s destroyed.

Minor Operations: 19 Lancasters of 5 Group (including 13 aircraft from 617 Squadron) on an accurate raid of an explosives factory at Bergerac in France, 12 Mosquitoes to Aachen, Dortmund and Duisburg, 8 aircraft on Resistance operations, 18 O.T.U. sorties. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the night: 1,046 sorties, 22 aircraft (2.1 percent) lost.
427 Sqn RCAF (Leeming – Halifax III) 18-3-44
Weather: Cloudy with intermittent rain at noon and dusk. Visibility three to six miles at first improving to ten to fifteen miles during morning.

Operations were scheduled for this date and fourteen aircraftwere provided by the Squadron, the target being FRANKFURT All aircraft took off and twelve successfully bombed the target and returned to this country. Two aircraft failed to return from this operation, they were piloted by F/O T.W. COOPER (G - GEORGE) and Z - ZEBRA, piloted by CAN-R156049 SGT MILLER, W.C. Crews reported the target to be covered with haze thus making visibility poor. P.F.F. was good although route markers were very poor. Searchlights were ineffectivethough due to the haze. Large explosions were seen and although there were a few scattered fires the raid was well concentrated. All aircraft landed away from base. "V" VICTOR piloted by R141414 F/S COATHUP saw a little real action while making the bombing run the Rear Gunnar sighted an ME.109 on the port quarter, down at 400 yds. Enemyaircraftcame in climbing towards the aircraft. Combat evasion was "Corkscrew port" and the rear gunner fired a short burst while in the corkscrew as the fighter broke away at 200 yards to starboard up and was not seen again. Resume course was given after fighter broke away. Enemy aircraft did not open fire. All aircraft diverted to Bury St. Edmunds.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III HX279 ZL-Z. Crew: Sgt WC Miller RCAF POW, Sgt GA Ritchie KIA, F/O AH Mildon RCAF KIA, Sgt RA Dumas RCAF KIA, F/O RE O’Heare RCAF KIA, Sgt E Sawyer POW, Sgt RC Gallaugher RCAF KIA.T/O 1915 Leeming. Shot down by Hptm Gerhard Friedrich 1./NJG6 at Priest near Trier, NW Kaiserslautern at 2230. Those who died are buried at Choloy War Cemetery.

Halifax III LW551 ZL-G. Crew: F/O TW Cooper RCAF KIA, Sgt L Preston POW, F/O WA Wright RCAF POW, F/O CA Cawson RCAF POW, Sgt TF Muncaster POW, F/S DB Dowker RCAF POW, Sgt PA Clare POW. T/o 1905 Leeming. Shot down by Uffz Willi Paulus (1st victory) 6./JG300 20 km WSW Frankfurt at 2205. F/O Cooper rests in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Sadly, Sgt Preston became ill with a stomach complaint and following an abdominal operation he developed peritonitis and died on 11 May 1945, just as Allied forces were liberating Barth. He is buried in the 1939-1945 War Cemetery at Berlin.

BOMBER COMMAND
FRANKFURT
846 aircraft – 620 Lancasters, 209 Halifaxes, 17 Mosquitoes. The German fighter force was again split. One part was lured north by the Heligoland mining operation but the second part waited in Germany and met the bomber stream just before the target was reached, although cloud made it difficult for these fighters to achieve much success. 22 aircraft – 12 Halifaxes, 10 Lancasters – were lost, 2.6 percent of the force.

The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and this led to heavy bombing of eastern, central and western districts of Frankfurt. The later phases of the bombing were scattered but this was almost inevitable with such a large force; new crews were usually allocated to the final waves. Extensive destruction was caused in Frankfurt. The local report gives a long list of ‘cultural buildings’, including the Opera House and the preserved medieval quarter, destroyed. Most of the report consists of statistics: 5,495 houses, 99 industrial firms, 412 small businesses, 56 public buildings – all destroyed or seriously damaged; many other buildings were lightly damaged. 421 civilians were killed and 55,500 were bombed out. A military train was hit and 20 soldiers in it were killed and 80 wounded but this may have been by the action of a Fighter Command Intruder aircraft; the Frankfurt report says that the train was shot up by cannon-fire.

DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
17 Mosquitoes to airfields in Holland, Belgium and France, 98 aircraft on minelaying diversion in the Heligoland area, 11 Mosquitoes on a diversion raid to Kassel, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 13 Serrate patrols. No aircraft were lost and the Serrate Mosquitoes claimed 3 Ju 88s destroyed.

Minor Operations: 19 Lancasters of 5 Group (including 13 aircraft from 617 Squadron) on an accurate raid of an explosives factory at Bergerac in France, 12 Mosquitoes to Aachen, Dortmund and Duisburg, 8 aircraft on Resistance operations, 18 O.T.U. sorties. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the night: 1,046 sorties, 22 aircraft (2.1 percent) lost.

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Operation Map

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2nd TAF
During the day Mitchells from 98 and 320 Squadrons raided a 'Noball' site at Gorenflos, a notorious Flak 'black spot. Two of the bombers were hit and badly damaged, both forced to ditching the Channel on the way home. Fortunately, both crews survived and were picked up by the ASR services, one by a Walrus amphibian, the other by a Sea Otter.

In the latter part of the afternoon three Mosquitoes from 21 Squadron and four each from 464 and 487 Squadrons, launched a special attack on the Hozmeyer Electrical Equipment factory at Hengelo, Belgium. Two of the Australian unit's aircraft were hit, one returning in a damaged condition and the other lost, although the crew survived as POWs.

Fl Lt "Zipp' Button also returned with a badly damaged aircraft, having hit a tree on a Rangerlosing 3 feet off the starboard wing tip. He was forced to touch down at 195 knots at Manston, collapsing the undercarriage to avoid over-shooting the runway.

USAAF
GERMANY: Two hundred eighty-four 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen and the Landsberg, Lechfeld, and Memmingen airdromes; 198 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack aircraft- industry targets around Friedrichshafen; and 196 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack Munich and other targets of opportunity in the Munich area. Fifteen B-17s and 28 B-24s are downed, four heavy bombers are written off, and crew losses are 438 missing, 10 killed, and 22 wounded. Among the lost airmen is Col Joseph A. Miller, the 453d Heavy Bombardment Group commander, who is killed.

Escort and support is provided by a record 925 USAAF fighters, including 261 from the Ninth Air Force. Thirteen escorts are lost with 12 pilots, and three are written off. The 78th Fighter Group flies the first triple mission of the campaign, employing “A”, “B”, and “C” formations totaling 96 aircraft.

USAAF escort pilots down 38 GAF aircraft over Germany and eastern France between 1230 and 1630 hours. FO Ralph K. Hofer, a P-51 pilot with the 4th Fighter Group’s 334th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Mannheim at 1335 hours; and LtCol Mark E. Hubbard, who scored four victories during a first tour in the MTO, achieves ace status at the controls of a 20th Fighter Group P-38 when he downs two Bf-109s, shares in the downing of another, and probably downs yet another, in the vicinity of Memmingen at about 1400 hours. However, Hubbard is himself shot down by a GAF fighter pilot near Augsburg and taken prisoner. Less fortunate is Capt Lindol F. Graham, a P-38 ace with the 20th Fighter Group’s 79th Fighter Squadron. Shortly after sharing in the downing of a Bf-110 near Ulm, Graham is killed when his P-38 hits the ground during a strafing run.

ITALY: Responding to reports that as many as 235 GAF fighters have returned to the Udine Airdrome complex in northeastern Italy, Fifteenth Air Force planners conceive a brilliant plan to eradicate them. First, 95 P-38s strafe lines of supply and communication in northeastern Italy and conduct a sweep over the Udine-Villaorba area, an operation that holds most GAF fighters in the area on the ground. Next, 113 B-17s make a feint toward southern Germany by way of the Yugoslav coast, a move that draws up GAF fighters based at Klagenfurt and Graz airdromes, in southern Austria. These B-17s next turn sharply west, which in turn draws the GAF interceptor force toward northeastern Italy. The B-17s drop 20-pound fragmentation bombs on Udine and Villaorba airdromes at 1013 hours, and the USAAF fighters in the area attack the GAF fighters out of Graz and Klagenfurt. As the B-17s and all the USAAF fighters leave the area, the GAF fighters must land at the Udine area’s three undamaged airfields to rearm and refuel. As the GAF fighters are being serviced at the Gorizia, Lavariano, and Maniago satellite fields, those bases are bombed between 1059 and 1111 hours by, respectively, 72, 67, and 121 B-24s, which sow 32,370 20-pound fragmentation bombs that destroy or damage 56 GAF aircraft on the ground. Also, in the air between 0925 and 1005, Fifteenth Air Force P-38 and P-47 pilots down 17 GAF aircraft. The cost to the Fifteenth Air Force, in the course of 406 heavy-bomber and 168 fighter sorties, is seven bombers and four fighters lost.

In addition to attacks on the airdromes, Fifteenth Air Force P-38s and P-47s attack a tanker in Mariano Lagoon, destroy six seaplanes at Belvedere, and attack two trains and two railroad stations.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s, and XII Air Support Command A-20s attack the rail line at Colleferro, the marshalling yard at Foligno, a rail bridge and marshalling yards at Orvieto, the port area at Piombino, a rail bridge at Poggibonsi, and an assembly area north of the Anzio beachhead. XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack tactical targets in and around the Anzio battle area, troop concentrations near Cassino, and various rail and road targets.

RAFBASE CHANGES
124 Sqn (Spitfire VII) moves to Church Fenton
234 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Bolt Head
616 Sqn (Spitfire VII) moves to Tangmere

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
131 Sqn (Colerne) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VII


2nd TAF
During the day Mitchells from 98 and 320 Squadrons raided a 'Noball' site at Gorenflos, anotorious Flak 'black spot. Two of the bombers were hit and badly damaged, both forced to ditchin the Channel on the way home. Fortunately, both crews survived and were picked up by theASR services, one by a Walrus amphibian, the other by a Sea Otter.

In the latter part of the afternoon three Mosquitoes from 21 Squadron and four each from464 and 487 Squadrons, launched a special attack on the Hozmeyer Electrical Equipment factoryat Hengelo, Belgium. Two of the Australian unit's aircraft were hit, one returning in a damagedcondition and the other lost, although the crew survived as POWs.

Fl Lt "Zipp' Button also returned with a badly damaged aircraft, having hit a tree on a Rangerlosing 3 feet off the starboard wing tip. He was forced to touch down at 195 knots at Manston,collapsing the undercarriage to avoid over-shooting the runway.

USAAF
GERMANY: Two hundred eighty-four 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack aircraft-industry targets at Oberpfaffenhofen and the Landsberg, Lechfeld, and Memmingen airdromes; 198 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack aircraft- industry targets around Friedrichshafen; and 196 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack Munich and other targets of opportunity in the Munich area. Fifteen B-17s and 28 B-24s are downed, four heavy bombers are written off, and crew losses are 438 missing, 10 killed, and 22 wounded. Among the lost airmen is Col Joseph A. Miller, the 453d Heavy Bombardment Group commander, who is killed.

Escort and support is provided by a record 925 USAAF fighters, including 261 from the Ninth Air Force. Thirteen escorts are lost with 12 pilots, and three are written off. The 78th Fighter Group flies the first triple mission of the campaign, employing “A”, “B”, and “C” formations totaling 96 aircraft.

USAAF escort pilots down 38 GAF aircraft over Germany and eastern France between 1230 and 1630 hours. FO Ralph K. Hofer, a P-51 pilot with the 4th Fighter Group’s 334th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Mannheim at 1335 hours; and LtCol Mark E. Hubbard, who scored four victories during a first tour in the MTO, achieves ace status at the controls of a 20th Fighter Group P-38 when he downs two Bf-109s, shares in the downing of another, and probably downs yet another, in the vicinity of Memmingen at about 1400 hours. However, Hubbard is himself shot down by a GAF fighter pilot near Augsburg and taken prisoner. Less fortunate is Capt Lindol F. Graham, a P-38 ace with the 20th Fighter Group’s 79th Fighter Squadron. Shortly after sharing in the downing of a Bf-110 near Ulm, Graham is killed when his P-38 hits the ground during a strafing run.

ITALY: Responding to reports that as many as 235 GAF fighters have returned to the Udine Airdrome complex in northeastern Italy, Fifteenth Air Force planners conceive a brilliant plan to eradicate them. First, 95 P-38s strafe lines of supply and communication in northeastern Italy and conduct a sweep over the Udine-Villaorba area, an operation that holds most GAF fighters in the area on the ground. Next, 113 B-17s make a feint toward southern Germany by way of the Yugoslav coast, a move that draws up GAF fighters based at Klagenfurt and Graz airdromes, in southern Austria. These B-17s next turn sharply west, which in turn draws the GAF interceptor force toward northeastern Italy. The B-17s drop 20-pound fragmentation bombs on Udine and Villaorba airdromes at 1013 hours, and the USAAF fighters in the area attack the GAF fighters out of Graz and Klagenfurt. As the B-17s and all the USAAF fighters leave the area, the GAF fighters must land at the Udine area’s three undamaged airfields to rearm and refuel. As the GAF fighters are being serviced at the Gorizia, Lavariano, and Maniago satellite fields, those bases are bombed between 1059 and 1111 hours by, respectively, 72, 67, and 121 B-24s, which sow 32,370 20-pound fragmentation bombs that destroy or damage 56 GAF aircraft on the ground. Also, in the air between 0925 and 1005, Fifteenth Air Force P-38 and P-47 pilots down 17 GAF aircraft. The cost to the Fifteenth Air Force, in the course of 406 heavy-bomber and 168 fighter sorties, is seven bombers and four fighters lost.

In addition to attacks on the airdromes, Fifteenth Air Force P-38s and P-47s attack a tanker in Mariano Lagoon, destroy six seaplanes at Belvedere, and attack two trains and two railroad stations.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s, and XII Air Support Command A-20s attack the rail line at Colleferro, the marshalling yard at Foligno, a rail bridge and marshalling yards at Orvieto, the port area at Piombino, a rail bridge at Poggibonsi, and an assembly area north of the Anzio beachhead. XII Air Support Command A-36s, P-40s, and P-47s attack tactical targets in and around the Anzio battle area, troop concentrations near Cassino, and various rail and road targets.

RAFBASE CHANGES
124 Sqn (Spitfire VII) moves to Church Fenton
234 Sqn (Spitfire VB) moves to Bolt Head
616 Sqn (Spitfire VII) moves to Tangmere

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
131 Sqn (Colerne) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VII

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25 Sqn (Coltishall – Mosquito NFXVII) 19-3-44
N.F.Ts. were carried out by "A" Flight in the usual way, weather very good.

Following a warning that 12 Group might at last get some activity, the first two crews were scrambled on first indications of activity and Squadron brought to readiness.

F/Lt. Singleton and F/O. Haslam were vectored North under Happisburgh and placed in the middle of a bunch of hostiles resulting in a contact at 81/2 miles and a visual at 1500 feet on a JU. 188. A three second burst exploded the enemy aircraft and it went down in flames disintegrating before hitting the water. Almost immediately another contact was obtained which led to another visual on a JU.188 at 1500 feet. This aircraft was also hit with a three second burst and it exploded and went down in flames into the sea. Another contact was obtained immediately and this also to another visual on another J. 188. A short burst set the enemy aircraft starboard engine on fire and as it went down in a dive a further burst set the aircraft well alight. After this, F/Lt. Singleton noticed the port radiator temperature was off the clock, so course was set for base and this engine feathered. As however, starboard engine was running very hot port engine was unfeathered and both engines used to return to base at least possible revs and boost losing height. Both engines were running very roughly and whilst an approach with wheels and flaps up starboard engine caught fire and seized immediately followed by the port. F/Lt.Singleton however, made an excellent crash landing in a ploughed field 500 yards short of the flare path, and both of the crew escaped without serious injury.

F/Lt. Greaves with P/O. Robbins at the same time had contacts on two Huns, which were followed and brought to a visual, one of the enemy aircraft being an HE.177 which was destroyed and a DO. 217 which suffered the same fate soon after. Both enemy aircraft' were bombed up and non-evasive.

Lt. Thynbee and Lt. Green had a contact which resulted in a visual on an HB.177; at the moment of final approach to fire, the Mosquito was illuminated by searchlights and the contact immediately lost.

There were various other fleeting contacts but no other visuals.

Two “B" Flight crews, F/O. Henderson with F/O. Simpson and F/Sgt. Tait with F/Sgt. Letchford
chased homeward bound Huns to the Dutch coast, but the Huns practice of keeping in cloud defeated attempts to obtain visuals.

BOMBER COMMAND
21 Mosquitoes – 9 to Berlin, 8 to Düsseldorf and 4 to Aachen, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 3 Serrate patrols, 19 Stirlings minelaying off Dutch and French coasts, 6 O.T.U. sorties. 1 R.C.M. Wellington lost.

2nd TAF
During the night of 19/20th some 50 Luftwaffe bombers raided Hull on the east Yorkshire coast. One of the night fighter units intercepting was 85 Group's 264 Squadron, which recorded its first claim since becoming a part of 141 Airfield when Flg Off R.Barbour, with Flg Off G.Paine as radar operator, claimed a Do 217 shot down over Alford, South Lincolnshire.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Although unable to reach their briefed target at Steyr because of bad weather, a total of 234 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack Klagenfurt Airdrome with 589 tons of bombs. Also, 76 B-24s attack Graz Airdrome with 183 tons of bombs. Twelve B-24s are downed at Graz and six B-24s are lost at Klagenfurt, including two lost in a collision.

The new 55th Heavy Bombardment Wing’s 460th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, makes its combat debut on this mission. This is also the 55th Wing’s first mission.

FRANCE: During the morning, 16 Ninth Air Force P-47 dive-bombers attack a GAF airfield near Boulogne-sur-Mer; 173 1st and 3d Bombardment division B-17s, escorted by P-47s, attack V-weapons sites; and 152 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack V-weapons sites around St.-Omer.

During the afternoon, 65 IX Bomber Command A-20s attack the St.-Omer V-weapons sites again.

ITALY: Components of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF), including the Twelfth Air Force, are directed to expand their ongoing attacks against Axis lines of communication throughout Italy by targeting ports, rail lines, and marshalling yards. The new operation is code-named STRANGLE.

Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack the marshalling yard at Avezzano, a bridge and the marshalling yard at Orte, and a bridge near Orvieto; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a road bridge near Arezzo and port facilities at San Stefano al Mare; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack tank repair shops near Tivoli; and XII Air Support Command P-40s and P-47s attack gun emplacements and troop concentrations near the Anzio beachhead battle area.

NETHERLANDS: Twenty 78th Fighter Group P-47s, escorted by ten other P-47s, dive-bomb Gilze-Rijen Airdrome.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Knin and Metkovic.

RAF BASE CHANGES
132 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Detling
264 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves Harrowbeer

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245 Sqn (Westhampnett – Typhoon IB) 20-3-44
Eight aircraft (W/Cdr. Green) took off at 0925 to bomb installations at Croisette. Target was obscured by 6/10 cloud, but hits were seen in the target area. F/O N.W. Crabtree was flying as Blue 3, was last seen after pulling out of a dive and did not reply to frequent R/T calls on the way home. Consequently there is no indication at all as to what happened to him. A practice squadron formation was flown in the afternoon.

ADDENDUM – Typhoon IB JP972 MR-? Pilot F/O NW Crabtree KIA. Flak. Buried in St. Pol War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
20 Lancasters of 5 Group –14 from 617 Squadron – bombed an explosives factory at Angoulême; 25 Mosquitoes attacked 5 targets in Germany, the largest raid being by 12 aircraft to Munich, and 9 aircraft flew on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

2nd TAF
Whilst undertaking an attack on a 'Noball' target, a Mitchell of 320 Squadron was shot down by Flak near Flixecourt, whilst one of 98 Squadron was also hit and ditched in the sea 25 miles west of Boulogne.

USAAF
FRANCE: IX Bomber Command B-26s and A-20s attack a marshalling yard, locomotive works, and rail bridge at Creil, and four V-weapons sites. Also, 85 IX Fighter Command P-47 dive-bombers and escorts attack Abbeville/Drucat, Conches, and Poix airdromes.

Maj James C. Stewart, the commanding officer of the 56th Fighter Group’s 61st Fighter Squadron, in P-47s, brings his final personal tally to 11.5 confirmed victories when he downs two Bf-109s and probably downs another near Charleville at 1130 hours.

GERMANY: Of 353 Eighth Air Force B-17s dispatched, high cloud cover forces all but 146 to abort. The day’s secondary target, Frankfurt am Main, and several targets of opportunity are attacked. Only one of 92 B-24s dispatched drops its bombs on a target of opportunity. Losses are five B-17s and two B-24s missing, and 165 heavy bombers damaged.

Escort for the heavy bombers is provided by 594 fighters, including 79 from the Ninth Air Force. Eight escorts are lost with their pilots.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack marshalling yards at two locations and the port area at San Stefano al Mare; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack Port Ercole, rail bridges at two locations, and ships and port facilities at Piombino; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack a factory; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack a rail line and drop food parcels to Allied ground troops around Cassino; XII Air Support Command P-40s attack fuel dumps, gun emplacements, and troop concentrations in the Cassino area; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack fuel dumps.

RAF BASE CHANGES
306 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Heston
313 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Mendlesham
602 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Detling

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
164 Sqn (Thorney Island) flies its first OM in the Typhoon IB
438 Sqn RCAF (Hurn – Typhoon IB) flies its first OM of the war

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66 Sqn (North Weald – Spitfire LFIXB) 21-3-44
No operations laid on so a Ranger was planned during the morning and at 1410 hrs six aircraft led by S/Ldr. K. Lofts (others were W/O C. Neal, F/Lt. J. Jackson, F/Sgt. V. Tidy, F/O C. Reeder, F/O C. Brown) took off for Hawkinge as forward base. Six aircraft took off from Hawkinge at 1504 hrs and crossed the French coast above cloud at about 5000 ft. They then dived down to deck level and proceeded to the Paris area. No enemy aircraft were seen and the aircraft returned over practically the same course and landed back at base at 1720 hrs. Red 5 (F/O C. Reeder) was hit in the port mainplane but returned safely to base.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
Mosquitoes: 27 to Cologne, 6 to Aachen and 3 to Oberhausen, 1 R.C.M. sortie, 3 Serrate patrols, 18 aircraft minelaying off Channel and Biscay coasts, 4 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

2nd TAF
183 Squadron lost one of its flight commanders, Fl Lt Peter Raw, a veteran of early Typhoon operations with 609 Squadron, during a snow-plagued Ranger over Holland. He was shot down by Flak whilst attacking barges on the River Waal.

USAAF
FRANCE: Fifty-six 2d Bombardment Division B-24s dispatched attack V-weapons sites around Watten, but all of the IX Bomber Command B-26s dispatched against V-weapons sites are recalled due to bad weather.

VIII Fighter Command fighter pilots down ten GAF aircraft over France between 1345 and 1530 hours. During a sweep around Bordeaux by 48 4th Fighter Group P-51s, Capt Kenneth G. Smith, of the 335th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he shares in the downing of an Fi-156 near Bordeaux at 1345 hours. However, Smith is himself shot down and taken prisoner. Maj George Carpenter, the 335th Fighter Squadron commanding officer, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 and shares in the downing of a second FW-190 near Bordeaux between 1415 and 1500 hours.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather, and several planned missions by Twelfth Air Force B-25s and A-20s are canceled because of the weather, but one group of Twelfth Air Force B-25s attacks a bridge at Poggibonsi. Also, Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack the viaducts at Arezzo and Bucine, and the rail bridges at Cecina and Poggibonsi; XII Air Support Command A-36s drop food parcels to ground troops around Cassino; P-40 fighter-bombers attack tactical targets around the Anzio beachhead; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack rail bridges north of Rome.

1stLt Richard F. Hurd, a Spitfire pilot with the 31st Fighter Group’s 308th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status with his fifth and sixth confirmed victories when he downs two Bf-109s near Pignataro at about 1400 hours. In all during the day, 31st Fighter Group Spitfire pilots down five Bf-109s over central Italy.

RAF BASE CHANGES
332 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Southend
485 Sqn RNZAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Lianbedr
486 Sqn RAAF (Typhoon IB) moves to Ayr
609 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Acklington

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
208 Sqn (Trigno) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VC and its first in the Spitfire IX

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408 Sqn RCAF (Linton-on-Ouse – Lancaster II) 22-3-44
"On with operations" called Bomber Command, and in response to this call, the Squadron prepared thirteen aircraft, and detailed an equal number of crews to prepare for the initial take-off. The first aircraft was airborne at 1841 hours, and by 1913 hours all were well on their way to Frankfurt, Germany. Reports show that the primary was well attacked, and fires were taking a good hold. The glow from these fires could be seen from some considerable distance away on the return journey. All aircraft were successful in reaching the target area, but unfortunately two crews failed to return, and are presumed lost over the target.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster II DS797 EQ-M. T/o 1841 Linton-on-Ouse. Crew: F/L WT Fulton RCAF KIA, WO2 DAP La Drew RCAF KIA, Sgt R Walmsley KIA, WO2 JAPH Gaboury RCAF KIA, F/O FJ King RCAF KIA, Sgt RL Barr RCAF KIA, Sgt GF Thompson RCAF KIA, Sgt JM Smith KIA. T/o 1841 Linton-on-Ouse. Possibly shot down by Hptm Gerhart Raht (24th victory) 4.NJG3. All now lie in Dürbach War Cemetery.

Lancaster II LL717 EQ-W. Crew: F/S JAN Pare RCAF KIA, Sgt KL Curtis KIA, F/S GF Clough RCAF KIA, F/O LD Proctor RCAF KIA, F/O H Moroz RCAF KIA, Sgt AE Rickert RCAF KIA, Sgt SE Woolhether RCAF KIA. T/o Linton-on-Ouse 1852. Shot down by Hptm Paul Zorner (35th victory) 8./NJG3 in the Giessen area at 2218. Five are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, while F/O Proctor and Sgt Woolhether rest in Dürbach War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
FRANKFURT
816 aircraft – 620 Lancasters, 184 Halifaxes, 12 Mosquitoes. Again, an indirect route was employed, this time crossing the Dutch coast north of the Zuider Zee and then flying almost due south to Frankfurt. This, and the Kiel minelaying diversion, confused the Germans for some time; Hannover was forecast as the main target. Only a few fighters eventually found the bomber stream. 33 aircraft – 26 Lancasters, 7 Halifaxes – were lost, 4.0 percent of the force. particularly mentions severe damage to the industrial areas along the main road to Mainz. The report also has long lists of historic buildings, churches and hospitals destroyed and statistics for the destruction of property. Mention is made of 5 important and 26 lesser Nazi Party buildings hit. 948 people were killed, 346 seriously injured and 120,000 bombed out.

162 B-17s of the Eighth Air Force used Frankfurt as a secondary target when they could not reach Schweinfurt 36 hours after this R.A.F. raid and caused further damage. The Frankfurt diary has this entry:
The three air raids of 18th, 22nd and 24th March were carried out by a combined plan of the British and American air forces and their combined effect was to deal the worst and most fateful blow of the war to Frankfurt, a blow which simply ended the existence of the Frankfurt which had been built up since the Middle Ages.

One result of these heavy raids was that recently captured R.A.F. men often had to be protected by their guards from the assaults of angry civilians when they passed through Frankfurt to reach the nearby Oberursel interrogation and transit camp.

DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
20 Mosquitoes bombing night-fighter airfields, 128 Halifaxes and 18 Stirlings mine-laying in Kiel Bay and off Denmark, 22 Mosquitoes on diversion and harassing raids to Berlin, Dortmund, Hannover and Oberhausen, 16 R.C.M. sorties and 16 Serrate patrols, 1 Halifax minelayer lost.

20 O.T.U. Wellingtons carried out leaflet flights to France without loss.

Total effort for the night: 1,056 sorties, 34 aircraft (3.2 percent) lost.

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Actual 408 Sqn RCAF Navigators map from this Operation:

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USAAF
GERMANY: Six hundred fifty-seven Eighth Air Force heavy bombers diverted by bad weather from attacking several aircraft factories at Oranienburg and Basdorf attack Berlin and a small number of targets of opportunity with a total of 1,471 tons of bombs. Twelve heavy bombers are lost and one is interned in Sweden, and 347 bombers are damaged. Escort is provided by 817 fighters, including 221 from the Ninth Air Force, but only two GAF aircraft are downed.

The 466th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, makes its combat debut.

At the conclusion of this mission, the 482d Heavy Pathfinder Bombardment Group is formally withdrawn from combat and reassigned solely as a pathfinder training unit.

ITALY: Approximately 100 Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Bologna and Rimini; more than 100 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Verona; Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack the road bridge near Poggibonsi; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a viaduct near Arezzo and a rail bridge at Poggibonsi; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements.

When Mt. Vesuvius erupts, the 340th Medium Bombardment Group, based at Pompeii Airdrome, is forced to evacuate on short notice. Few human casualties result from the rain of hot rocks, but every one of the group’s 88 B-25s is destroyed.

RAF BASE CHANGES
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Tangmere

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
10 Sqn (Melbourne) flies its first OM in the Halifax III

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77 Sqn (Elvington – Halifax V) 23-3-44
Weather. Cloudy with poor visibility all day and light s'ly winds bearing w'ly.

Operations. Call was for 16 crews, briefed at 15.30 hours, crews detailed were:- "C" F/S.WICKHAM-JONES. "D" F/SGT.JURY, "E" F/LT. PRITCHARD, "F" F/SGT, JUDD, "H" F/LT. WELCH, DFC, "J" F/LR, CADMAN, "K" F/SGT.JEWELL, "L" P/O. PEARCE, "M" P/O.MANSON, "O" F/SGT.HUNTER, (Early return), "P" P/O.ROBERTSON, "S" S/LDR. BOND, (Landed at WING), "T" F/O. REYNOLDS(MISSING), "R" P/O.SMITH, "W" W/CMDR. RONCORONI, "Z" SGT.BEADLE.

ADDENDUM – Halifax V LL130 KN-T. Crew: F/O GL Reynolds KIA, Sgt R Pennykid KIA, Sgt VG Raymond KIA, F/O FR Hocken KIA, Sgt D Savage KIA, Sgt EW Brown KIA, Sgt W Longden KIA. T/o 1920 Elvington to attack railway yards. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
LAON
143 aircraft – 83 Halifaxes, 48 Stirlings, 12 Mosquitoes – of 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 2 Halifaxes lost.

The weather in the target area was clear but the Master Bomber ordered the attack to be stopped after 72 aircraft had bombed. The local report states that about half of the bombs hit the railway yards but the remainder were scattered in an area up to 3 km from the target. The bombing did cut the through lines but these were repaired the following day. 83 houses around the station were hit but only 7 civilians were killed and 9 injured because most of the people who lived near the station moved to other parts of Laon at night.

Lyons
20 Lancasters of 5 Group, including 617 Squadron, bombed an aero-engine factory near Lyons without loss.

Minor Operations: 13 Mosquitoes to Dortmund and 2 to Oberhausen, 5 R.C.M. sorties, 4 Serrate patrols, 2 Stirlings minelaying off Brittany, 6 O.T.U. sorties. No losses.

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2nd TAF
126 Airfield Spitfires escorted 72 B-26s to bomb Creil marshalling yards at midday, in which area Fig Off Don Laubman spotted a Ju 88 flying far below. Joined by Flt Lt W.B.Needham, he dived to attack, the fire from the two Spitfires causing the German aircraft to crash-land.

With evening, the Czechs of 134 Airfield accompanied another 72 B-26s to attack La Louvier marshalling yards ("Ramrod 678"). Over Poix six Fw 190s of L./JG 26 attacked 312 Squadron, Plt Off E.Miejnecky's Spitfire being damaged sufficiently to cause him to force-land at Manston on his way back to base. Lt Georg Kiefner's Focke-Wulf suffered a loss of propeller control, and he was pursued at low-altitude by Flg Off L.Svetlik. As he pulled up over a row of poplars near Courtrai, Svetlik's fire struck home and Kiefner baled out, slightly wounded.

On this date 464 Squadron moved its Mosquitoes to Swanton Morley in order to undertake exercises with the Army. Here the unit would remain until 8 April.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s on their way to attack aircraft-industry targets at Steyr are recalled because of bad weather.

FRANCE: During the morning, 220 IX Bomber Command B-26s mount an attack against the Beaumont-le-Roger and Beauvais/Tille airdromes and a marshalling yard at Creil.

During the afternoon, 146 IX Bomber Command B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Haine-St.-Pierre.

The 394th Medium Bombardment Group, in B-26s, makes its combat debut in the morning attack against Beaumont-le-Roger Airdrome.

GERMANY: Bad weather obliges 707 of 765 Eighth Air Force heavy bombers dispatched to attack secondaries and targets of opportunity with an aggregate of 1,755 tons of bombs. Twenty-two B-17s and six B-24s and lost, and 322 heavy bombers are damaged.

Escort and support for the heavy bombers is provided by 841 fighters, including 226 from the Ninth Air Force. Four escorts are lost with their pilots.

Escort pilots down 20 GAF fighters over Belgium and Germany between 0957 hours and noon. 1stLt William J. Simmons, a P-51 pilot with the 354th Fighter Group’s 355th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 near Hannover at 1115 hours.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s attack a rail bridge; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a marshalling yard at Florence; XII Air Support Command A-36s attack tactical targets in the Cassino battle area; and XII Air Support Command P-40s attack gun emplacements in the Cassino-Esperia battle area.

UNITED STATES: The 487th Heavy Bombardment Group, in B-24s, departs for England via the southern ferry route.

RAF BASE CHANGES
105 Sqn (Mosquito BIX/BXVI) moves to Bourn
120 Sqn (Liberator V) moves to Ballykelly
464 Sqn RAAF (Mosquito FBVI) moves to Swanton Morley

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425 Sqn RCAF (Tholthorpe – Halifax III) 24-3-44

14 Aircraft were detailed to attack Berlin this evening. 3 aircraft returned early for following reasons: Port Outer engine over heating, Port, outer engine U/S: and intercom rear turret U/S. One a/c did not take-off Navigator having lost his equipment. 2 a/c are missing. Attack appeared to be successful with fires concentrated around markers and smoke rising to 10,000 ft. Red glow could be seen up to 150 miles away. Defence show H/F to be slight with light flak up to 25,000 ft. S/L's numerous but ineffective.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III LLW425 KW-V. Crew: P/O JALL Renaud RCAF KIA, Sgt JR Nutman KIA, F/O JPRF Brazeau RCAF KIA, Sgt WM Boyer RCAF KIA, P/O RA Hanks KIA, P/O CS Turner RCAF KIA, Sgt JJBB Huot RCAF KIA. T/o 1853 Tholthorpe. Shot down by Lt Otto Keller 9./NJG5 or Lt Willi Trabert 9./NJG300. All are buried in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. P/O Turner was an American from NYC.

Halifax III LW428 KW-C. Crew: P/O NH Jones RCAF KIA, Sgt GWC Mabbott KIA, P/O MC Latornell RCAF KIA, P/O MH MacLeod RCAF KIA, P/O JA Laviolette RCAF KIA, Sgt JEY Bouchard RCAF KIA, P/O JC Tracey RCAF KIA. T/o 1855 Tholthorpe. Shot down by Fw Hans Meissner (9th victory) 2./NJG3, into the sea N Heligoland at 2118. P/O Latornell is buried in Kiel War Cemetery; P/O MacLeod, who at a39 was well over the average age of operational airmen, lies in Becklingen War Cemetery, and Sgt Bouchard rests in Hamburg War Cemetery, Ohlsdorf. The rest have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
BERLIN
811 aircraft – 577 Lancasters, 216 Halifaxes, 18 Mosquitoes. 72 aircraft – 44 Lancasters, 28 Halifaxes – lost, 8.9 percent of the force.

This night became known in Bomber Command as ‘the night of the strong winds’. A powerful wind from the north carried the bombers south at every stage of the flight. Not only was this wind not forecast accurately but it was so strong that the various methods available to warn crews of wind changes during the flight failed to detect the full strength of it. The bomber stream became very scattered, particularly on the homeward flight and radar-predicted Flak batteries at many places were able to score successes. Part of the bomber force even strayed over the Ruhr defences on the return flight. It is believed that approximately 50 of the 72 aircraft lost were destroyed by Flak; most of the remainder were victims of night fighters. The Berlin report says that 14 bombers were shot down by fighters in the target area.

The strong winds caused difficulties in the marking at Berlin with, unusually, markers being carried beyond the target and well out to the southwest of the city. 126 small towns and villages outside Berlin recorded bombs and 30 people were killed in those places. The majority of the damage in Berlin was in the south-western districts. As usual, much housing was destroyed and about 20,000 people were bombed out. Approximately 150 people were killed. No industrial concerns were classed as destroyed but several important ones were damaged. 5 military establishments were badly hit including the depot of the Waffen-S.S. Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Division in Lichterfelde.

This was the last major R.A.F. raid on Berlin during the war, although the city would be bombed many times by small forces of Mosquitoes.

DIVERSION AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS
147 aircraft from training units carried out a diversionary sweep west of Paris; 27 Mosquitoes bombed night-fighter airfields and 15 Mosquitoes bombed Duisburg, Kiel and Münster; aircraft of 100 Group flew 4 R.C.M. sorties and 10 Serrate patrols, 1 Serrate Mosquito lost.

9 aircraft dropped supplies to the Resistance without loss.

Total effort for the night: 1,023 sorties, 73 aircraft (7.1 percent) lost.

Screenshot (66131).png (175.79 KiB) Viewed 1185 times

Operations map for the night

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2nd TAF
Wg Cdr 'Bob' Braham again borrowed a Mosquito from 613 Squadron, and during the middle of the afternoon, with Sqn Ldr Robertson navigating, flew a 'Ranger' to Denmark, passing over the Grave and Aalborg areas. South of Aalborg he spotted what appeared to be a Bf 109 with its undercarriage down (later identified as a Ju W34), just about to land, and at once shot it down. Moments later a Ju 52/3m appeared, and following a further attack by Braham, this transport force-landed on marshy ground and turned over onto its back.

USAAF
FRANCE: One hundred forty-eight 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack St.-Dizier/Robinson Airdrome, and 33 B-24s diverting from Metz/Frescati Airdrome because of cloud cover attack Nancy/Essay Airdrome. Escort is provided by two P-47 groups.

GERMANY: Sixty 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the primary target, Schweinfurt, with 130 tons of bombs, and 162 B-17s attack the secondary, Frankfurt am Main, with 382 tons of bombs. There are no losses to enemy action, but 11 crewmen and eight servicemen and two children on the ground are killed when a pathfinder B-17 crashes during a premission flight. Also, two B-17s crash after colliding near Schweinfurt.

Although seven fighter groups are unable to take off because of bad weather, escort is provided by nearly 450 fighters from nine groups. Four fighters and three of their pilots are lost in two separate midair collisions.

ITALY: Under relentless attack as part of Operation STRANGLE, the rail lines to Rome from northern Italy are completely severed following week-long attacks by the Twelfth and Fifteenth air forces. Hereafter, until the city is liberated in June, no rail car is able to get through Rome in any direction.

Although more than 200 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s abort in the face of bad weather, approximately 100 B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Rimini, and 32 B-24s attack Ancona, Senigallia, and several rail and road bridges spanning the Vomano River.

Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack the rail line and a bridge at Orvieto; Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack port facilities at Leghorn, and bivouac areas and supply dumps; XII Air Support Command A-20s attack gun emplacements near Cassino; XII Air Support Command A-36s and P-40s attack gun emplacements, troop concentrations, and road targets in the Cassino battle area; and XII Air Support Command P-47s attack a train and a rail bridge near Rome.

RAF BASE CHANGES
2 Sqn (Mustang IA) moves to Sawbridgeworth
55 Sqn (Baltimore IV) moves to Biferno
131 Sqn (Spitfire VIII/IX) moves to Harrowbeer
151 Sqn (Mosquito NFXIII) moves to Predannack
315 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Lianbedr

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
3 Sqn (Bradwell Bay) flies its last OM in the Typhoon IB
87 Sqn (Palermo) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VB