Matrix Games Forums

28-10-44
434 Sqn RCAF (Croft – Halifax III)
Twenty aircraft of this Squadron were detailed for an attack on COLOGNE. All aircraft took successfully and on returning to base after this operation were diverted due to weather conditions. Aircraft A, B, D, E, I, J, K, M, N, P, Q, T, U, V, X, Y, Z, were diverted to Wombleton. Aircraft "F" had a fire start in the Starboard outer motor and after all attempts to put out the fire had failed, the order was given to "Bail Out”. All the crew successfully bailed out and the aircraft crashed about two miles from Linton-on-Ouse.

BOMBER COMMAND
COLOGNE
733 aircraft – 428 Lancasters, 286 Halifaxes, 19 Mosquitoes. 4 Halifaxes and 3 Lancasters lost.

The bombing took place in 2 separate waves and the local report confirms that enormous damage was caused. The districts of Mülheim and Zollstock, north-east and south-west of the centre respectively, became the centre of the 2 raids and were both devastated. Classed as completely destroyed were: 2,239 blocks of flats, 15 industrial premises, 11 schools, 3 police stations and a variety of other buildings. Much damage was also caused to power-stations, railways and harbour installations on the Rhine. 630 German people were killed or their bodies never found and 1,200 were injured. The number of foreign casualties is not known.

WALCHEREN
277 aircraft – 155 Halifaxes, 86 Lancasters, 36 Mosquitoes – of 4 and 8 Groups carried out raids on gun positions at 5 places on the rim of the newly flooded island. Most of the bombing appeared to be successful. 1 Halifax and 1 Lancaster lost.

Minor Operations: 4 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation. No losses.

Total effort for the day: 1,015 sorties, 9 aircraft (0.9 percent) lost.
________________________________________
28/29 October 1944
BERGEN
237 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes of 5 Group to attack the U-boat pens. It is probable that 5 Group had been waiting to attack this important target for several days; the Group had not flown any operations since 23 October. Clear conditions were forecast for the target area, although there were some doubts about this. Unfortunately the area was found to be cloud-covered. The Master Bomber tried to bring the force down below 5,000 ft but cloud was still encountered and he ordered the raid to be abandoned after only 47 Lancasters had bombed. 3 Lancasters lost.

The town of Bergen again provides a good report. 4 bombs did hit the roofs of the U-boat pens but the operations of the base were not affected. 35 houses were destroyed and 50 were damaged around the harbour area but the population here may have been evacuated; no one was killed in that area. There was a second bombing area, however, in the town centre. Further houses were hit and 52 civilians and 2 Germans were killed. A particularly sad loss for the people of Bergen was the Engen Theatre, ‘an old wooden theatre – a magnificent, large building and the oldest theatre in Europe’.

Minor Operations: 30 Mosquitoes to Cologne, 4 to Karlsruhe and 3 to Rheine, 8 R.C.M. sorties, 5 Mosquito patrols, 14 Lancasters minelaying off Oslo. No aircraft lost. 2 3 2nd TAF

For a pleasant change the day dawned clear, allowing both sides to put more aircraft into the air, and in a more planned manner. JG 2 and JG 26 operated in support of a Panzer offensive intended to stabilize the line between Weert and Venlo. Few Luftwaffe fighters actually reached the front line area due to the presence of Allied fighters.

Soon after midday two Gruppen from each Geschwader were sent off, II./JG 26 meeting six Typhoons of 182 Squadron which were on an armed reconnaissance over the Venlo-Roermond, Keupen-Geldern area, Wt Off K.Lewis being shot down and killed south-west of Kempen, to the south-east of Venlo; Maj Anton Hackl claimed one Typhoon as did Lt Gerhard Vogt, although the latter was wounded by fire from another Typhoon, and had to force-land nearby. No claims were submitted by the RAF pilots on this occasion however. The witness report to this combat (German claim films C 2027 II) makes it clear that only the one Typhoon was shot down, being hit on the first pass, and then again during a second attack, following which it crashed.

412 Squadron undertook numerous bombing sorties during the day, and on the seventh such mission the pilots spotted II./JG 26's formation returning to base after their engagement with 182 Squadron. The Canadians 'bounced' the Focke-Wulfs, becoming engaged in a long dogfight during which Flt Lt Don Laubman shot down Obfw Karl-Heinz Knobeloch, who baled out low and was killed when he hit the ground before his parachute could open. Uffz Johannes Hoffmann collided with his element leader during the chase and also baled out, injured. Laubman was credited with the two Fw 190s, bringing his personal total to 14, making him the top- scoring Canadian pilot still on operations, and also 2nd TAF top-scorer since 6 June.

At 1515 412 Squadron undertook its eighth 'show', this time encountering Bf 109Gs of III./JG 26 just after they had taken off. Flt Lt Phil Charron claimed two shot down and Plt Off W.C.Busby one probable. They had done better than they realised however; two of the German pilots were killed, one baled out and one force-landed. A fifth Messerschmitt was hit, but evaded, only to be hit again, this time by German Flak over its own airfield, the pilot then crash-landing.

While this was going on however, 400 Squadron was losing Flt Lt W.W.Kennedy and his Spitfire XI during a PR sortie to Münster. It seems that he was an early victim of 1./Kommando Nowotny, a test unit of Me 262s developing the aircraft as a fighter rather than a fighter-bomber. Lt Alfred Schreiber of this unit shot down Kennedy's Spitfire, which crashed at Steenderen at 1310. A little later Flg Off R.J.Danzey of 486 Squadron gave chase to a I./KG 51 Me 262, claiming damage to this when south of Volkel.

The day also cost four more Typhoons and two Spitfire IXS to Flak, while a 430 Squadron Mustang I was shot down in error near B.78 by Spitfires; fortunately, Flt Lt J.L. McMahon was not hurt. The crew of a 226 Squadron Mitchell were less lucky when this bomber was brought down from a formation of 12 attacking a bridge at Venlo.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Ten Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack Klagenfurt Airdrome.

BELGIUM: Ninth Air Force fighter-bombers attack a tunnel and six bridges near the Belgian-German frontier.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Division headquarters displaces to Reims.

The Ninth Air Force’s 367th Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-68, at Juvincourt.

GERMANY: One hundred seventy-eight 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Munster, and 184 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Hamm. Three B-17s and two of 199 VIII Fighter Command escorts are downed.

Forty-five 9th Bombardment Division bombers attack Euskirchen Airdrome and rail bridges at three locations.

Ninth Air Force fighter pilots down seven GAF fighters in two separate engagements at 1150 and 1545 hours.

Eight Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack a marshalling yard near Munich.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, and XXII TAC is able to mount only 65 P-47 sorties against lines-of-communication targets.

27 October 1944, nothing on the 28th
BASE CHANGES
25 Sqn (Mosquito NF30) moves to Castle Camps
68 Sqn (Mosquito NFXVII/NFXIX) moves to Coltishall
266 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Snaith

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
46 Sqn (Idku) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter VIF

29-10-44
582 Sqn (Little Staughton – Lancaster I/III)
3 air test and S.B.A. flights. 8 aircraft datailed for operations against WALCHEREN. All took off but F/O CROFT failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III PB630 6O-A. Crew: F/O LF Croft RNZAF KIA, Sgt JWH Brown KIA, F/O K Hodgson, F/L ES Dawson DFC KIA, F/S RC Mahoney KIA, Sgt RL Pocock KIA, Sgt DD Wilson KIA, F/S WT Witty KIA. T/o 1145 Little Staughton. Lost without a trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

BOMBER COMMAND
WALCHEREN
358 aircraft – 194 Lancasters, 128 Halifaxes, 36 Mosquitoes – of 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups attacked 11 different German ground positions. Visibility was good and it was believed that all the targets were hit. 1 Lancaster lost.

TIRPITZ
37 Lancasters – 18 from 9 Squadron, 18 from 617 Squadron and a film unit aircraft from 463 Squadron – were dispatched from Lossiemouth in Scotland to attack the battleship Tirpitz, which was now moored near the Norwegian port of Tromsö. The removal of the Lancasters’ mid-upper turrets and other equipment and the installation of extra fuel tanks, giving each aircraft a total fuel capacity of 2,406 gallons, allowed the Lancasters to carry out this 2,250-mile operation.

A weather-reconnaissance Mosquito had reported the target area free of cloud and the Lancasters formed up at a lake near the bay in which the Tirpitz was moored and commenced their attack. Unfortunately the wind had changed and a bank of cloud came in to cover the battleship 30 seconds before the first Lancaster was ready to bomb. 32 aircraft released Tallboy bombs on the estimated position of the battleship but no direct hits were scored. 1 of 617 Squadron’s Lancasters, which was damaged by Flak, crash-landed in Sweden and its crew were later returned to Britain.

Minor Operations: 3 R.C.M. sorties, 4 Ranger patrols, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation. No aircraft lost.
________________________________________
29/30 October 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
59 Mosquitoes to Cologne and 6 to Mannheim, 55 Mosquitoes on Serrate and Intruder patrols. No aircraft lost. 2 2nd TAF
Tempests of 274 Squadron launched an early morning attack on L./JG 26's airfield at Krefeld, claiming two Fw 190s damaged on the ground there. Somewhat later 143 Wing undertook an attack on the lock gates at Bevergean, on the Dortmund-Ems canal east of Rheine. Escort was provided by two squadrons of Spitfires while 168 Squadron was joined by 247 Squadron in undertaking the Flak suppression role. The latter unit employed its RPs against such targets, but one of its aircraft was hit and force-landed near B.78 on return. When 143 Wing attacked, the Flak, despite 247 Squadron's efforts, was still intense. Nevertheless, the Canadians pressed home their low-level attack, launching their 1,000 lb bombs from 50 feet. Unfortunately, the lock was flooded, not empty (which should have left the gates more vulnerable) as hoped; barges and the surrounding buildings absorbed most of the punishment and the gates remained intact.

Around midday Sqn Ldr W.A.Olmstead led 442 squadron to dive-bomb a bridge over the Dortmund canal, south of Münster. His 500 lb bomb failed to release, until that is, he was subsequently strafing a lorry when it fell off and blew the vehicle to pieces, seriously damaging his Spitfire in the process. He managed to nurse the Spitfire back 100 miles and had just regained friendly territory when the engine failed and he was obliged to take to his parachute.

During the early afternoon six 403 Squadron Spitfires encountered a large group of Bf 109s. Unfortunately, four of the Canadian pilots were unable to jettison their long-range tanks, and only two pilots were able to engage. Flt Lt Walter Hill claimed two shot down and one damaged, while Plt Off McKenzie Reeves claimed one in each of these categories.

123 Wing Typhoon squadrons began a move to B.67 at Ursel, which would be completed the next day. Soon after dark, at 1855, 1/Lt Archie Harrington/Plt Off Dennis Tongue of 410 Squadron intercepted and claimed shot down an Fw 190 fighter-bomber east of St Anton.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Thirty P-38s on escort duty with Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack locomotives and other rail targets between Wels and Kienburg. Claims amount to 17 locomotives destroyed.

BELGIUM: The Ninth Air Force’s 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground Y-10, at Le Culot Airdrome East.

ETO: Approximately 170 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack rail bridges at five locations in the Netherlands and western Germany, and Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack numerous bridges and rail targets in the areas directly behind the various battlefronts.

GERMANY: Ninth Air Force fighter pilots down 21 GAF fighters between 1145 and 1545 hours. Capt Harry E. Fisk, a P-51 pilot with the 354th Fighter Group’s 356th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs three Bf-109s near Karlsruhe at 1145 hours; and 2dLt Bruce W. Carr, a P-51 pilot with the 354th Fighter Group’s 353d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Bockingen at 1145 hours.

Of 725 Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers dispatched against several targets in southern Germany, only 35 B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Munich. The rest are thwarted by bad weather.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, and XXII TAC P-47s are able to mount only 15 sorties against rail lines in the Po River valley.

BASE CHANGES
91 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Manston
119 Sqn (Albacore I) moves to B.83 Knocke/Le Zoute
163 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.67 Ursel

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
142 Sqn (Gransden Lodge) flies its first OM in the Mosquito B.25

30-10-44
427 Sqn RCAF (Leeming Halifax III)

Weather: Mainly fair with fog at dawn. Visibility mainly moderate. Wind light to moderate Northerly.

Today started early with breakfast at 0330 hrs, and main briefing at 0700 hrs. The effort was postponed, though owing to poor viability on the deck and main briefing was held again at 1530 hrs. Eighteen aircraft took off to bomb COLOGNE, The target was obscured by 10/10ths cloud with tops at 10/12000ft and visibility above the cloud was good. Most crews checked position by gee on the run-up and estimated that the Wanganui flares were well positioned, good concentration of red, green and white skymarkers were in position for the duration of the wave. A steady glow developed which could be seen through the cloud by later crews. No assessment of results is possible. All crews attempted photographs.

ADDENDUM – Halifax III MZ903 ZL-Y. T/o 1814 Leeming but the starboard inner engine failed and the Halifax gradually lost height. At 2020 all bombs were jettisoned from 10,000 feet and the crew crash-landed 2055 at Manston.

BOMBER COMMAND
WALCHEREN
102 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 5 Group successfully attacked gun batteries. 1 Mosquito lost. This was the last Bomber Command raid in support of the Walcheren campaign and the opening of the River Scheldt. The attack by ground troops on Walcheren commenced on 31 October and the island fell after a week of fighting by Canadian and Scottish troops, including Commandos who sailed their landing craft through the breaches in the sea walls made earlier by Bomber Command. It required a further 3 weeks before the 40-mile river entrance to Antwerp was cleared of mines and the first convoy did not arrive in the port until 28 November.

WESSELING
102 Lancasters of 3 Group carried out a G-H raid on the oil refinery. No results were seen because of the cloud but the bombing was believed to be accurate. No aircraft lost.

Minor Operations: 7 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation. No losses.
________________________________________
30/31 October 1944
COLOGNE
905 aircraft – 438 Halifaxes, 435 Lancasters, 32 Mosquitoes. No aircraft lost.

This was an Oboe-marked raid through cloud, and Bomber Command estimated that only ‘scattered and light’ damage was caused in the western parts of the city. But the local report shows that enormous damage was caused in the suburbs of Braunsfeld, Lindenthal, Klettenberg and Sülz, which were ‘regelrecht umgepflügt’ – ‘thoroughly ploughed up’ – by the huge tonnage of high explosive dropped (3,431 tons of high explosive and 610 tons of incendiaries were dropped). A vast amount of property, mostly civilian housing, was destroyed but railways and public utilities were also hit. There was little industry in the area which was bombed. Among the buildings destroyed or seriously damaged were Cologne University, the local army-garrison headquarters and the 1,000-year-old St Gereon church, struck by a heavy bomb which blew ‘an enormous hole’; the damage took 35 years to repair! 497 Germans were killed and 57 were ‘missing’. The number of foreigners killed is not known but a prisoner-of-war camp in the Heliosstrasse was destroyed.

Minor Operations: 62 Mosquitoes to Berlin and 3 each to Heilbronn and Oberhausen, 42 R.C.M. sorties, 57 Mosquito patrols. 2 Mosquitoes were lost – 1 from the Berlin raid and 1 Intruder.

Total effort for the night: 1,072 sorties, 2 aircraft (0.2 percent) lost. 2 3 4 USAAF
AUSTRIA: During the night of October 30–31, three Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack Klagenfurt Airdrome.

ETO: All 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s dispatched against bridges and other targets in the battlefront areas are recalled because of bad weather.

FRANCE: The 9th Bombardment Divi-sion’s 387th Medium Bombardment Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-71, at Clastres.

GERMANY: In what was to have been a major strike by more than 1,300 heavy bombers against German oil and oil- products production, bad weather forces the entire 3d Bombardment Division and many other Eighth Air Force heavy bombers to abort, and most of nearly 650 other heavy bombers to divert to numerous secondary targets and targets of opportunity. Nevertheless, 139 2d Bombardment Division B-24s manage to attack their primary targets, a pair of oil refineries at Hamburg. Two B-24s and five of 906 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

Col Donald J. M. Blakeslee, the 4th Fighter Group commanding officer, flies the last of an estimated 350 combat sorties and is forcibly transferred to a desk job with the VIII Fighter Command’s 65th Fighter Wing.

On what is scheduled to be his final combat sortie, Col Hubert Zemke, the legendary former commander of the 56th Fighter Group, current commander of the 479th Fighter Group, and a 17.75-victory ace, bails out over enemy territory and is captured when his P-51 is ripped apart in a thundercloud.

Twenty-six 3d Bombardment B-17s and two APHRODITE B-17 flying bombs attack the naval installation at Heligoland Island.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather, and the XXII TAC is able to mount only 51 P-47 sorties against various targets in the Po River valley.

BASE CHANGES
11 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk IV) moves to Perugia
107 Sqn (Mosquito FBVI) moves to Hartfordbridge
164 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.67 Ursel
198 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.67 Ursel
305 Sqn (Mosquito FBVI) moves to Hartfordbridge
609 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to B.67 Ursel
613 Sqn (Mosquito FBVI) moves to Hartfordbridge

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
66 Sqn (B.60 Grimberghen) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB
131 Sqn (Friston) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VII

31-10-44
103 Sqn (Elsham Wolds Lancaster I/III)
COLOGNE
Nineteen aireraft and one reserve were offered and accepted for this attack. All took off in quite good weather. W/103 F/O. SMITH returned early with engine unserviceable and the reserve aircraft took off.

Weather en route was good and on arrival in the target area, it was clear except for 10/10ths cloud layer at approximately 10,000 ft, and the markers were seen to be very well placed, with an excellent concentration.

Bombing was carried out on these markers, with, it is believed, very good results, Defences again were quite light, a barrage of heavy flake. No fighters were seen, although several of our own were sighted in and above the stream,

F/S. COOKE H/103 is missing from this operation, although several of the crew are.. beleived to be safe.

All the remaining aircraft returned to Base and landed safely in good weather conditions.

ADDENDUM – Aircraft crashed behind Allied lines, crew safe. F/S Cooke evaded capture after landing on the other side.

BOMBER COMMAND
COLOGNE
493 aircraft – 331 Lancasters, 144 Halifaxes, 18 Mosquitoes – of 1, 3, 4 and 8 Groups. 15 further Mosquitoes carried out a feint attack just before the main raid. 2 Lancasters lost.
This was another Oboe-marked attack through thick cloud. Most of the bombing fell in the southern districts, with Bayental and Zollstock, according to the local report, being the hardest hit, although damage was not as severe as in other recent raids. Firm details are now harder to obtain. The recording system in Cologne was becoming less reliable, mainly because so many people had now left the city. The only item of outstanding interest mentioned is the blowing up of an ammunition train in the Klettenberg district. 98 Germans were killed; the foreign casualties were not recorded though it is known that a number were killed at the Eifeltor Station.

Minor Operations: 49 Mosquitoes to Hamburg, 4 to Saarbrücken and 2 to Schweinfurt, 36 R.C.M. sorties, 59 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost. 2 3 4 2nd TAF
It was the turn of 2 Group's Mosquitoes to undertake a special operation as the month came to an end. While the units of 138 Wing were attacking Walcheren Island, which was due to be invaded, 140 Wing undertook a formation daylight raid on a Gestapo headquarters located in one of the buildings of Aarhus University in Denmark. Wg Cdr Reg Reynolds, DSO, DFC, with his navigator, Sqn Ldr Edward Sismore, DSO, DFC, led four 'boxes' of aircraft, accompanied in the lead box by three 487 Squadron aircraft. The second box, led by Wg Cdr I.G.Dale, comprised six aircraft from 21 Squadron; the third, led by Wg Cdr Arthur Langton, AFC, comprised six from 464 Squadron, while the fourth, led by Wg Cdr Porteous, comprised six more 487 Squadron aircraft.

The round trip journey totalled 1,235 miles, more than 700 of them over the sea, and it took five and a half hours to accomplish. Escort was provided by Mustangs of Fighter Command (the name to which ADGB had now reverted), the attack proving a complete success. The single loss was a 487 Squadron aircraft flown by Wg Cdr W.L.Thomas with Flt Lt P.R.Humphrey-Baker as navigator. Damaged by debris flying up from the target, Thomas managed to nurse the aircraft across the Skagerrak to land in Sweden.

In Holland 416 Squadron bade farewell to their notable Commanding Officer when Sqn Ldr J.F.McElroy, DFC & Bar, became tour-expired. His place would be taken by Sqn Ldr John Mitchner, DFC.

USAAF
ETO: The 9th Bombardment Division is grounded, and Ninth Air Force fighter operations are sharply curtailed by bad weather. However, XII TAC fighters and fighter-bombers are able to support the U.S. Seventh Army around Metz.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-26s attack a causeway and several bridges, and XXII TAC P-47s attack gun emplacements and defensive positions south of Bologna as well as shipping targets and lines of communication in the Po River valley.

YUGOSLAVIA: One hundred seventy-four Fifteenth Air Force B-24s dispatched against targets in Yugoslavia abort in the face of bad weather.

BASE CHANGES
10 Sqn SAAF disbanded
13 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Marciane
131 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to SEAC
243 Sqn disbanded
576 Sqn (Lancaster I/III) moves to Fiskerton

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
27 Sqn (La Senia) flies its last OM in the Ventura V

1-11-44
BOMBER COMMAND
HOMBERG
226 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes of 5 Group, with 14 Mosquitoes of 8 Group, attempted to attack the Meerbeck oil plant. The marking was scattered and only 159 of the Lancaster crews attempted to bomb. 1 Lancaster lost.
Minor Operations: 2 R.C.M. sorties, 1 Hudson on a Resistance operation.
________________________________________
1/2 November 1944
OBERHAUSEN
288 aircraft – 202 Halifaxes, 74 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitoes – of 6 and 8 Groups. 3 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost.

The target area was cloud-covered and the bombing was not concentrated. 36 houses were destroyed in Oberhausen and 4 people were killed but other places in the Ruhr may have been hit as well.

Minor Operations: 49 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 12 to Cologne and 4 each to Karlsruhe and Mülheim, 28 R.C.M. sorties, 46 Mosquito patrols, 25 aircraft on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost.

2nd TAF
Wg Cdr Mike Judd, so recently relieved as Wing Leader of 143 Wing, now took over this role in 121 Wing from Wg Cdr Bill Pitt-Brown, DFC, departing due to a disagreement with AVM Harry Broadhurst regarding the degree of risk to which the Wings should be subjected.

Within 145 Wing at Wevelghem, there was an exchange of French units, 340 Squadron withdrawing to Biggin Hill in England, while 345 Squadron took its place. 125 Wing was on the move again, its Spitfire XIV units moving to B.64, Diest, while 135 Wing began moving to B.65, Maldegem.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack a diesel-engine factory, an ordnance factory, and a marshalling yard at Vienna; marshalling yards at Graz; a marshalling yard at Gussing; a tank factory at Kapfenburg; and various communications targets.

ENGLAND: Col Kyle L. Riddle resumes command of the 479th Fighter Group. Riddle, who had commanded the unit until shot down on August 10, 1944, evaded capture and returned to the group as executive officer under Col Hubert Zemke (who was in turn captured on October 30, 1944).

ETO: 9th Bombardment Division bombers are grounded by bad weather, but Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack rail lines and bridges in and around the battle area.

The tactical organization of the IX Fighter Command on November 1, 1944, stands as follows: the IX TAC (70th Fighter Wing, consisting of the 365th, 366th, 367th, 368th, 370th, and 474th Fighter groups, the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, and the 422d Night Fighter Squadron); the XIX TAC (100th Fighter Wing, consisting of the 354th, 358th, 362d, 405th, and 406th Fighter groups, the 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, and the 425th Night Fighter Squadron); and the XXIX TAC (84th and 303d Fighter wings, consisting of the 36th, 48th, 373d, and 404th Fighter groups, and the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group).

FRANCE: The Ninth Air Force’s 50th Fighter Group and the XII TAC’s 371st Fighter Group (formerly a Ninth Air Force unit) are formally transferred to the First Tactical Air Force.

GERMANY: One hundred thirteen 1st Bombardment Division B-17s and 143 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack synthetic-oil plants at Gelsenkirchen, and a total of 60 1st and 3d Bombardment division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Hamm, a rail bridge, and the city of Koblenz. One of 286 VIII Fighter Command escort fighters is downed. This is the first operational mission in which the Micro-H blind-bombing technique is used.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force bombers are grounded by bad weather, but limited numbers of XXII TAC P-47s are able to attack roads, bridges, and rail lines throughout northern Italy, and especially in the Po River valley.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack marshalling yards at Cakovec and Ljubljana.

2-11-44
405 Sqn RCAF (Gransden Lodge – Lancaster III)
OPERATIONS “DUSSELDORF” 16 Aircraft Detailed (NightAttack)

Fifteen aircraft successful ‘A’, which dropped 12 T.I. Green 250 lb., 15 x 4,000 HC Minol, 10 x 1,000 ANM 59, 60 x 500 M.C., 67x1,000 ANM 65, and 20 Flares Green between 1911:54 and 1934:36 hours from 18,000 to 19,000 foot. Weather, no cloud, slight ground haze and good visability . Our six Supporters were up to one minute early, five bombed Red T.I.s and one by H2S. Five Blind Sky Markers dropped Flares Green at 1917:24, 1917:30, 1926:24 1929:35 and 1935:36 hours. One Blind Sky Marker retained Flares Green owing to faulty G.P.I. run. Two Backers Up dropped Green T.I.s on Red T.I.s at 1913:36 and 1918136 hours. One Backer Up retained T. I.s, as T.I.s were obscured by smoke. Red T.I.s reported from 1904 hours and Green T.I.s from 1912 hours. Several crew saw the river and built-up area and estimate they were near the Aiming Point. One crew reports Red T.I.s definitely on Aiming Point at 1917:12 hours with Greens cascading on the Reds. All crews report marking and bombing well concentraed with promising fires and much smoke by 1917 hours. Slight to intense heavy flak and up to 40 searchlights, active but ineffective. Eleven aircraft seen shot down, two over target and the remainder between the target and Liege homeward. One aircraft successful ‘B’, 405/K which jettisoned 1 x 4,000 HC Minol, 5 x500 MC, 5 x 1,000 ANM 65 and 1 x 4 Flares Green in target area, following flak damage. 405/K crash-landed at Debden. Captain of this aircraft 405/K wounded, and F/Sgt. Perini baled out near target.

ADDENDUM - Lancaster III PB413 LQ-K. T/o 1707 Gransden Lodge. Hit by flak near Frefeld, wounding F/O HA Hannah Croix de Guerre RCAF in the neck and back. F/L GA Martin DFC took over the controls and flew the Lancaster back to East Anglia. Repeated Darkie calls were made and eventually Debden in Essex responded and here a forced-landing was made at 2245. In the confusion F/S AL Perini baled out over enemy territory. F/O never recovered from his wounds and passed away 27 January 1945.

BOMBER COMMAND
HOMBERG
184 Lancasters of 3 Group carried out a G-H attack on the oil plant. Large fires and a thick column of smoke were seen. 5 Lancasters lost.

2 Wellingtons flew R.C.M. sorties without loss.
________________________________________
2/3 November 1944
DÜSSELDORF
992 aircraft – 561 Lancasters, 400 Halifaxes, 31 Mosquitoes. 11 Halifaxes and 8 Lancasters were lost, 4 of the losses being crashes behind Allied lines in France and Belgium.

This heavy attack fell mainly on the northern half of Düsseldorf. More than 5,000 houses were destroyed or badly damaged. 7 industrial premises were destroyed and 18 were seriously damaged, including some important steel firms. At least 678 people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured.

This was the last major Bomber Command raid of the war on Düsseldorf.

Minor Operations: 42 Mosquitoes to Osnabrück and 9 to Hallendorf (only 1 aircraft reached this target), 37 R.C.M. sorties, 51 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost.

Total effort for the night: 1,131 sorties, 19 aircraft (1.7 percent) lost. 2 3 4 2nd TAF
During the mid-afternoon Tempests of 274 Squadron were again on patrol over the Nijmegen area, endeavouring to intercept the elusive Me 262s. Three of these were claimed to have been damaged, but nothing serious seems to have been inflicted, KG 51's records failing to note any serious damage to any of its aircraft emanating from Allied fighters. One aircraft was lost when that flown by the Staffelkapitän of 5. Staffel, Hptm Eberhard Winkel, was shot down by AA fire over Grave, the pilot surviving, though suffering serious wounds.

An hour later whilst on an armed reconnaissance to the south-east of Coesfeld, the pilots of 442 Squadron had just dropped the bombs which their aircraft had been carrying, when four Fw 190s were spotted. These were immediately attacked, Flt Lt Milt Jowsey, DFC, claiming one for his fifth victory, and Flg Off John Francis a second.

Eight 3 Squadron Tempests had been scrambled over the Rheine area during the afternoon, four to patrol the area while the other four made for Achmer. The latter quartet were 'bounced' by Fw 190s, and Flg Off D.J.Butcher's aircraft was damaged.

410 Squadron now moved to join 409 Squadron at B.51, Lille/Vendeville.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Seven Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack an oil refinery and airdrome at Moosbierbaum.

GERMANY: Two hundred ten 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg; 107 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Sterkrade; 172 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a bridge at Bielefeld; 131 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Castrop; 383 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg; and 78 B-17s and 24 B-24s attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity. In the heaviest air battles since September, the bomber force is attacked by an estimated 400 GAF fighters. Forty heavy bombers and 16 of 873 escort fighters are lost.

2dLt Robert E. Femoyer, the severely wounded navigator aboard a badly damaged 447th Heavy Bombardment Group B-17, refuses relief or even a sedative so that he can remain at his post for more than two hours in order to guide the crippled airplane home. Although the bomber lands safely at its home base, Femoyer soon dies of his wounds. He is awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.

VIII Fighter Command fighter pilots down a record 136 GAF fighters over Germany between 1210 and 1415 hours. Capt Donald S. Bryan, a 6.333-victory P-51 ace with the 352d Fighter Group’s 328th Fighter Squadron, downs five and damages two Bf-109s near Merseburg between 1230 and 1250 hours; and 1stLt James J. Pascoe, a P-51 pilot with the 364th Fighter Group’s 385th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs two Bf-109s near Halle at 1235 hours.

1stLt Henry J. Miklajcyk, a 7.5-victory P-51 ace with the 352d Fighter Group’s 486th Fighter Squadron, is lost near Halle.

The 352d Fighter Group’s 487th Fighter Squadron becomes the only Eighth Air Force squadron to be awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation—for downing 38 GAF aircraft in one day, the second- highest squadron tally in the theater.

One hundred forty-seven 9th Bombardment Division bombers attack rail bridges at five locations in western Germany.

ITALY: The Twelfth and Fifteenth air forces are grounded by bad weather over their bases or potential targets.


BASE CHANGES
33 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXE) moves to B.65 Meldeghem
55 Sqn (Boston IV) moves to Porto Benzo
222 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXE) moves to B.65 Meldeghem
340 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Biggin Hill
349 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.65 Meldeghem
410 Sqn RCAF (Mosquito NF30) moves to B.51 Vendeville

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
26 Sqn (Manston) flies its last OM’s in the Spitfire VA, VB & VC

3-11-44
128 Sqn (Wyton – Mosquito BXVI)
Weather: Overcast with rain during day. Cloud breaking and rain ceasing at dusk, good visibility decreasing gradually around 2300 hrs.

F/O Wallace returned from Berlin on one engine, A/C crashed on approach to land. Sgt. Soutar killed, and F/O Wallace died in Ely Hospital. Necessary action taken.

ADDENDUM - Mosquito BXVI MM197 M5-P. T/o 2333 Wyton. On return an engine failed on approach to land, a wingtip brushed the ground causing the Mosquito to cartwheel and crashed 0502 just short of the runway, near a bulk fuel store.

BOMBER COMMAND
MOSQUITO OPERATIONS
55 Mosquitoes to Berlin and 9 to Herford but only 3 aircraft reached Herford. No aircraft lost. 2nd TAF
After their recent move to Melsbroek, the squadrons of 127 Wing now began moving again "...just down the road" to B.56, Evere, somewhat closer to Brussels.

In the early afternoon Spitfires of 66 Squadron undertook a rail interdiction operation to the Rheindahlen area, but particularly intense Flak was encountered, three aircraft being hit and all crash-landing at Klundert; only one was repairable, and two of the pilots were wounded.

The Belgian 349 Squadron also suffered the loss of two aircraft in the same area, Flg Off P. De Croix crash-landing at Ostvoora and becoming a PoW. More Spitfires from 127 and 331 Squadrons suffered similar fates, and the Norwegian pilot Sgt T.B.Abrahamsen was killed.

A little while later the 122 Wing Leader, John Wray, became involved in an interception of a jet, claiming an Me 262 probably shot down near Geldern. The 2nd TAF log indicated that this claim was downgraded to 'damaged', and that the aircraft attacked was subsequently known to have been an Arado Ar 234 jet bomber. Other sources have suggested that Wray's victim was actually an aircraft of 3./Kdo Nowotny which crashed near Hittfeld, and in which Ofw Willi Banzhaff was killed. Banzhaff had been shot down and slightly wounded on 1 November by P- 51s, and it is possible that his final demise occurred on 4th, rather than 3rd- but there was only a single claim for a jet damaged on that day too, and there seems to be no doubt that Banzhaff fell to an Allied fighter.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fewer than 50 unescorted Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s brave extremely bad weather conditions to mount individual attacks against an aircraft factory at Klagenfurt, an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, an ordnance depot near Vienna, the cities of Graz and Innsbruck, a rail line near Graz, and a marshalling yard at Munich, Germany.

FRANCE: The 64th Fighter Wing headquarters is transferred from the Twelfth Air Force to the Ninth Air Force. It establishes a new command post at Ludres.

GERMANY: More than 140 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack rail bridges at four locations and a railway overpass.

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

BASE CHANGES
201 Sqn (Sunderland III) moves to Castle Archdale
403 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.56 Evere
421 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.56 Evere

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
309 Sqn (Drem) flies its last OM in the Mustang I

4-11-44
408 Sqn RCAF (Linton-on-Ouse – Halifax VII)
Sixteen Halifax aircraft MK. VII of this Squadron were detailed to attack BOCHUM, Germany, and all took-off. Fifteen claim to have attacked the primary from 1935 to 1942 hours from between 13,000 and 18,500 feet. One aircraft NP 750 "F" FREDDIE is missing from this operation and nothing has been heard from this aircraft since take-off time. One aircraft NP 724 "V" landed at DOWNHAM MARKET due to shortage of petrol. Weather was clear with some slight haze or very thin cloud. Visibility was good and the target was identified by Red T. I. markers. Markers were seen going down at about 1925 hours and were backed up by T. I. Green markers. A good carpet of incendiaries was observed with numerous fires taking hold, the glow being visible for 80 miles on the return journey. Bombs were seen bursting around the markers with particularly large red explosions reported at 1935, 1936, and 1939.8 and 1942 hours. It was thought to be a successful attack. The sky marking flares did not drift off the target and failed to attract much flak. Ground defences consisted of heavy flak bursting between 16,000 to 22,000 feet. Searchlights were operating in cones and some aircraft were slightly damaged by flak. One combat was reported and the enemy aircraft was' claimed as destroyed.

ADDENDUM – Halifax VII NP750 EQ-F. T/o 1717 Linton-on-Ouse. Attacked by a "Fw190' ca. 19.35 hrs at 17,000 ft just before bombing run, setting port inner engine on fire, rear gunner bailed out. Aircraft followed out of Ruhr (between Düsseldorf and Köln) and attacked by two unidentified fighters, again attacked over Belgium by an “Me210" and an Me109, crash-landed at 58 Base in Brussels and wrecked.

BOMBER COMMAND
SOLINGEN
176 Lancasters of 3 Group were dispatched but the raid was not successful and the bombing was badly scattered. 4 Lancasters lost.

2 Wellingtons and 1 Halifax flew R.C.M. sorties.
________________________________________
4/5 November 1944
BOCHUM
749 aircraft – 384 Halifaxes, 336 Lancasters, 29 Mosquitoes – 1, 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 23 Halifaxes and 5 Lancasters were lost; German night fighters caused most of the casualties. 346 (Free French) Squadron, based at Elvington, lost 5 out of its 16 Halifaxes on the raid.

This was a particularly successful attack based upon standard Pathfinder marking techniques. Severe damage was caused to the centre of Bochum. More than 4,000 buildings were destroyed or seriously damaged; 980 Germans and 14 foreigners were killed. Bochum’s industrial areas were also severely damaged, particularly the important steelworks. This was the last major raid by Bomber Command on this target.

DORTMUND–EMS CANAL
174 Lancasters and 2 Mosquitoes of 5 Group. 3 Lancasters lost.

The Germans had partly repaired the section of the canal north of Münster after the 5 Group raid in September, so this further attack was required. The banks of both branches of the canal were again breached and water drained off, leaving barges stranded and the canal unusable. A report from Speer to Hitler, dated 11 November 1944, was captured at the end of the war and described how the bombing of the canal was preventing smelting coke from the Ruhr mines reaching 3 important steelworks – 2 near Brunswick and 1 at Osnabrück. In his post-war interrogation, Speer stated that these raids on the Dortmund–Ems Canal, together with attacks on the German railway system, produced more serious setbacks to the German war industry at this time than any other type of bombing.

Minor Operations: 43 Mosquitoes to Hannover and 6 to Herford, 39 R.C.M. sorties, 68 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost. The 100 Group Mosquitoes claimed 4 Ju 88s and 2 Me 110s destroyed and 2 other night fighters damaged, possibly their most successful night of the war.

Total effort for the night: 1,081 sorties, 31 aircraft (2.9 percent) lost. 2 3 4 2nd TAF
The pattern of losses continued, with two Typhoons and three Spitfire IXs shot down by Flak or brought down by debris flying up from the targets being attacked. In the mid-afternoon Wt Off H.E.Ross of 80 Squadron strafed Rheine airfield, his claim for an Me 262 destroyed on the ground here being reduced to one damaged.

During a PR sortie, Flt Lt E.J.Lischke of 4 Squadron reported being attacked by four 'long-nosed' Fw 190s. At the most opportune moment four US P-51s appeared and drove the enemy off. Flt Lt D.A.J.Draper was also attacked by four standard radial-engined Fw 190s featuring yellow engine cowlings; he was able to escape their attentions.

As evening drew on Wt Off J.W.Marshall/Flg Off P.F.Prescott of 488 Squadron achieved the first success for the unit since receiving Mosquito XXXs, claiming a Bf 110 shot down to the east of Arnhem.

On this date 124 Wing took a break from army support and interdiction sorties to undertake two special attacks. Wg Cdr Kit North-Lewis led 247 Squadron to Apeldoorn to attack the headquarters of the Governor-General, Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart, one Typhoon being lost to Flak during this raid. The target was, however, only damaged and Seyss-Inquart survived. Flak was light, but accurate and North-Lewis's No. 2, Flg Off 'Jock' Wallace was killed when his Typhoon was apparently hit, rolled over at about 2,000 feet, and crashed straight into the ground.

The second attack was made by 181 Squadron and required particular care and accurate shooting. The target was a tower on the north wing of the Dutch Royal Family's summer palace which was in use by the SS as a headquarters; the rest of the building was believed still to be occupied by members of the family. The attack was made when the Typhoons were flying parallel to the main building so that any overshoots would go into the area beyond. The whole north tower was flattened, but hardly anything else was damaged. One of the attacking pilots was a Dutchman, Flg Off Van Zinnicq Bergmann, who became an ADC to Queen Wilhelmina at the end of the war; she "... always told her grandchildren that this was my work".

At Volkel, Typhoon pilots of 245 Squadron waiting to enter the runway for take-off, were horrified to see two crew attempt to bale out of a crippled Mitchell shortly before it touched down; both fell in the undershoot area and were killed instantly. The Mitchell, which had been hit by Flak while attacking the road and rail bridge at Venlo (a particularly stubborn target), crash-landed; the pilot and navigator survived.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard and a synthetic-oil plant at Linz.

GERMANY: Two hundred thirty-eight 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil-industry target at Hamburg; 91 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil- industry target at Bottrop; 210 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Hannover; 133 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Gelsenkirchen; 186 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil-industry target at Hamburg; 151 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil-industry target at Neunkirchen; and 87 B-17s attack various secondary targets (three marshalling yards) and targets of opportunity. Five heavy bombers and two of 768 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

A total of 218 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack gun emplacements around Eschweiler, a depot at Baumholder, and an ordnance depot at Trier.

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

Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards at Augsberg and Munich, and B-17s attack oil storage facilities at Regensburg.

ITALY: More than 200 Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack road and rail bridges leading from Brenner Pass; more than 130 B-25s attack communications targets and bridges in the Po River valley; and XXII TAC P-47s attack trains and other communications targets in the Po River valley, and gun emplacements, rocket sites, and communications targets in and around the battle area. Four P-47s bomb a hotel in Milan at which Adolf Hitler is erroneously rumored to be staying.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack a German Army troop concentration at Podgorica.

BASE CHANGES
26 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Tangmere
242 Sqn Disbanded
336 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Grottaglie
416 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.56 Evere
422 Sqn RCAF (Sunderland III) moves to Pembroke Dock
443 Sqn RCAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to B.56 Evere

5-11-44
15 Sqn (Mildenhall – Lancaster I/III)
The first battle order comprised fifteen aircraft detailed to attack SOLINGEN All aircraft took off between 0951 and 1005. The target was attacked in conditions of 10/10 clouds. Crews bombed on leading aircraft from this Squadron carrying special equipment. Owing to failure of special equipment in-one of our leaders, five aircraft bombed flares dropped by other aircraft. Owing to cloud conditions it was impossible to assess the result of the attack. F/Lt. H., “Z” Zebra is missing from this operation. Crews reported that his aircraft was hit by a bomb over the target. F/O. Hopper Cuthbert R., "G" George landed at Martlesham Heath on return.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I NF916 LS-Z. T/o 0955 Mildenhall. Crew killed. All are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
SOLINGEN
173 Lancasters of 3 Group carried out a G-H raid. 1 Lancaster lost.
Results of the raid were not observed, because of the complete cloud cover, but German reports show that this was an outstanding success. Most of the bombing fell accurately into the medium-sized town of Solingen. 1,300 houses and 18 industrial buildings were destroyed and 1,600 more buildings were severely damaged. Between 1,224 and 1,882 people were killed (accounts vary) and approximately 2,000 people were injured. A proportion of the bombs fell outside Solingen, however, and 150 people were killed in nearby Remscheid and Wuppertal.

1 Wellington flew an R.C.M. sortie and returned safely.

These 3 near-perfect raids in 24 hours – the area-bombing raid on Bochum marked by Pathfinders, the selective attack on the Dortmund–Ems Canal by 5 Group and the 3 Group G-H raid on Solingen – are good examples of the versatility and striking power now possessed by Bomber Command. All groups had taken part, dispatching 1,098 sorties and dropping 5,130 tons of bombs accurately on the targets. The loss of 28 bombers from the Bochum raid also shows, however, that the German defences could still be effective.
________________________________________
5/6 November 1944
MOSQUITO OPERATIONS
65 Mosquitoes to Stuttgart – in 2 waves – and 6 to Aschaffenburg. No aircraft lost. 2 2nd TAF
The activities of the Typhoons in support of 21st Army Group were acknowledged when 247 Squadron was able to record a message received from General Sir Brian Horrocks, thanking the rocket-firing pilots for "...their very fine, yes, very fine work indeed".

Otherwise the day was marked mainly by the loss of a 342 Squadron Boston during yet another attack on a bridge over the Meuse at Venlo.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: In the Fifteenth Air Force’s largest single mission of the entire war against a single target, 500 B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 337 fighters, attack the Vienna/Floridsdorf oil refinery with more than 1,100 tons of bombs. 52d and 325th Fighter group P-51 pilots escorting these bombers down ten Axis aircraft over Hungary between 1315 and 1435 hours.

FRANCE: The Ninth Air Force’s 362d Fighter Group displaces to Advance Landing Ground A-82, at Rouvres.

GERMANY: Three hundred ninety-six 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Frankfurt am Main; 333 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Karlsruhe; 219 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Ludwigshafen; 177 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil-industry (secondary) target at Ludwigs-hafen; and 89 heavy bombers attack various targets of opportunity. Twelve heavy bombers and six of 626 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

One hundred sixty 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack dumps in and around Hamburg.

Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack bridges and rail lines and support U.S. Army ground forces.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s mount more than 300 sorties against bridges leading down from the Brenner Pass and in the northeastern Po River valley.

YUGOSLAVIA: Twenty-four Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack German Army troop concentrations around Mitrovica and a marshalling yard at Podgorica.

BASE CHANGES
485 Sqn RNZAF (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Fairwood Common.

6-11-44
432 Sqn RCAF (East Moor – Halifax VII)
Twenty aircraft were detailed to attack Gelsenkirchen, all took off. Three aircraft returned early owing to technical failures. 3 x 2000 lbs. 1.0., 21 x 1000 lbs. M.C and 12 x 500 lbs. G.P. were jettisoned. Aircraft "H" NP.815 piloted by J.16229 F/O F. H. Eilertson failed to return from this operation. Nothing has been heard from any member of the crew since the take off. <unreadable> aircraft bombed the primar. One aircraft landed at Byeroton owing to shortage of petrol and engine trouble. Eighteen aircraft returned safely to Base.

ADDENDUM – Halifax VII NP815 QO-H. Crew: F/O FH Eilertson RCAF POW, Sgt CD Vaughn POW, F/O FI Morrissey RCAF POW, F/O LJ Hossie RCAF POW, F/S CD MacDonald RCAF POW, F/S TJ McAran RCAF KIA, F/S NE Stuttle RCAF KIA. T/o 1216 East Moor. The two AG’s are buried in the Reichswald War Cemetery.

BOMBER COMMAND
GELSENKIRCHEN
738 aircraft – 383 Halifaxes, 324 Lancasters, 31 Mosquitoes. 3 Lancasters and 2 Halifaxes lost.

This large daylight raid had, as its aiming point, the Nordstern synthetic-oil plant. The attack was not well concentrated but 514 aircraft were able to bomb the approximate position of the oil plant before smoke obscured the ground; 187 aircraft then bombed the general town area of Gelsenkirchen.

The Gelsenkirchen war diarist, who often recorded interesting titbits, tells of how this Protestant town had celebrated the Reformation Feast the previous day, a Sunday. The celebration had been held back from its proper date, 31 October, so as not to interfere with industrial production. The diarist wrote: ‘For many pious people, this was their last church service. Catastrophe broke over Gelsenkirchen the following day.’ The diary then proceeds to give several pages describing the severe damage throughout the town. The number of people killed was 518. The diarist then comments, perhaps with some pride, that Gelsenkirchen was mentioned by name in the O K W (German High Command) communiqué for the first time in the war.

1 Wellington flew an R.C.M. sortie.
________________________________________
6/7 November 1944
MITTELLAND CANAL
235 Lancasters and 7 Mosquitoes of 5 Group attempted to cut the Mittelland Canal at its junction with the Dortmund–Ems Canal at Gravenhorst. The marking force experienced great difficulty in finding the target. The crew of a low-flying Mosquito – pilot: Flight Lieutenant L. C. E. De Vigne; navigator: Australian Squadron Leader F. W. Boyle, 627 Squadron – found the canal and dropped their marker with such accuracy that it fell into the water and was extinguished. Only 31 aircraft bombed, before the Master Bomber ordered the raid to be abandoned. 10 Lancasters were lost.

KOBLENZ
128 Lancasters of 3 Group to this new target, making a night G-H attack. 2 Lancasters lost.

This was a successful raid with most of the damage being caused by a large area of fire in the centre of the town. The British Bombing Survey Unit later estimated that 303 acres, 58 percent of the town’s built-up area, were destroyed. The local report (from Dr Helmut Schnatz) states that destruction in an area 2 miles across was almost complete, with ‘nearly all of the historic courts of the ancient nobility, 3 old churches and the Castle of the Electors burnt out’. 104 people were killed – 89 civilians, 8 soldiers and 7 French and Italian prisoners of war – and 585 people were injured. Fire raids sometimes produced low casualty figures in towns with properly constructed shelters, but 25,000 people lost their homes.

Minor Operations: 48 Mosquitoes to Gelsenkirchen, 18 to Hannover, 11 to Rheine and 8 to Herford, 32 R.C.M. sorties, 82 Mosquito patrols, 12 Lancasters minelaying off Heligoland. 4 aircraft lost – 1 Mosquito from the Gelsenkirchen raid, 2 Mosquito Intruders and 1 R.C.M. Fortress. 2 3 4 2nd TAF
The experience of 4 Squadron's Flt Lt Lischke two days earlier highlighted the arrival over the front of a dangerous new opponent for the Allied fighters - the Fw 190D-9, known to the Luftwaffe as the 'Langnasen Dora. Powered by an in-line Jumo 210 engine with an annular cowling, which still gave the impression that the lengthened nose contained some form of radial engine, this fighter was formidable. The Me 262 had been a challenge to the pilots of the Tempest Vs, Spitfire IXS and XIVs, but not a great threat. This was different, and would increasingly become the primary opponent of the 2nd TAF fighters in the air superiority role.

Until now, two Staffeln of these aircraft had been defending the bases of Kommando Nowotny at Achmer and Hesepe, from where they had so far been encountered by US fighters. By early November the whole of III./JG 54, which had been one of the most successful Luftwaffe units over Normandy during the summer, was operational on the Fw 190 D-9 and was about to start making its presence felt.

During the late morning a Mosquito XVI of 140 Squadron was attacked by two fighters when on a PR sortie to Bocholt. Their fire damaged the aircraft and killed the navigator, Flg Off D.Copperace, although Wg Cdr F.S.Dobell, the unit's Commanding Officer, was able to get back to base and land safely.

The search for a suitable replacement fighter-reconnaisance type had finally been resolved and 430 Squadron now became the first unit to begin a conversion, albeit a slow one, to a new tactical reconnaissance version of the fast Spitfire XIV.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack a steel plant at Kapfenberg, an oil refinery at Moosbierbaum, an ordnance depot at Vienna, and several marshalling yards.

ETO: The 9th Bombardment Division is grounded by bad weather.

GERMANY: Two hundred eighty 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack two oil refineries at Hamburg; 204 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack the Mittelland Canal at Minden; 134 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a synthetic-oil tar-get at Sterkrade; 23 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack their primary target, an aircraft plant at Neumunster; 231 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack their secondary target, a marshalling yard at Neumunster; 65 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Duisburg; and 64 heavy bombers attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity. Five heavy bombers and five of 722 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack rail lines and bridges, and IX TAC fighter-bombers support U.S. Army ground forces near Schmidt.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack a railroad power station at Bolzano; Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack roads and rail lines, including transformers and converters, in Brenner Pass; and XXII TAC P-47s attack communications targets north of the battle area and troop positions and gun emplacements in the battle area south of Bologna.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Maribor.

BASE CHANGES
2 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Bellaria
4 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Bellaria
7 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Bellaria
198 Sqn (Typhoon IB) moves to Fairwood Common
241 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Fano

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
171 Sqn (North Creake) flies its last OM in the Stirling III

7-11-44
BOMBER COMMAND
1 Wellington flew an uneventful R.C.M. sortie.

2nd TAF
It was early afternoon when two 274 Squadron Tempests set off looking for rail targets. The two pilots attacked two large goods trains near Münster. Flt Lt J.A.Malloy dived down to strafe one while Flt Sgt R.C.Cole stayed above at 6,000 feet, providing cover. Suddenly he was attacked by several Fw 190 D-9s, while two more went after Malloy. Cole's aircraft swiftly fell to Oblt Hans Dortenmann, while Malloy's aircraft was damaged, apparently by Fw Hegener, who was later shot down by German Flak, returning a day later and claiming a victory which was not confirmed. Malloy got back to B.80, but Cole became a PoW. The 'Langnasen Dora' had struck its first blow!

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack an oil-industry facility near Vienna.

ETO: 9th Bombardment Division bombers are grounded by bad weather, but Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers support the U.S. V Corps as it faces heavy counterattacks along the Kall River gorge.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack rail lines leading out of Brenner Pass and a marshalling yard; Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s support the British Eighth Army and attack rail lines in northeastern Italy; and XXII TAC P-47s attack bridges and provide support for the U.S. Fifth Army.

Codifying changes that were made on October 19, 1944, the XII Fighter Command is formally and officially redesignated XXII TAC.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers attack marshalling yards at two locations and German Army troop concentrations at four locations. Also, 124 Fifteenth Air Force P-38s attack troop concentrations and roads and rail lines.

82d Fighter Group P-38s are mistakenly engaged by Soviet Air Force fighters, of which one is shot down, two are probably shot down, and one is damaged.

8-11-44
218 Sqn (Methwold – Lancaster I/III)
OPERATIONAL SUMMARY.
15 aircraft were detailed and briefed for operations today. The target was Homberg which 14 aircraft attacked,1 “C” was reported missing. 14x4000 lb. HC. 72x1000 lb. ANM. 59.025, 48x500 M.C. 025, 24x500 GP. LD., 3600x4lb. inc. bombs and 11 red flares were dropped from 16,000-17,500 ft. betwee 10.35½ and 10.39 hrs. Weather was clear over the target area. The target could be identified visually at first and bombing appears to have been concentrated but smoke soon, obscured the target and it seems rather more scattered. Flak was intense. A number of aircraft being hit by seen fire. 1 aircraft seen to go down, 5 parachutes were seen. No fighters seen.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I PD374 HA-C. Crew: F/O LM Hough RAAF KIA, W/O JH Tales KIA, F/S JA Clifford POW, F/O JH Barron KIA, Sgt HC Burnside KIA, Sgt J Lawson KIA, Sgt SK Lee POW. T/o Methwold 0825. Those who perished have no known graves.

BOMBER COMMAND
MINOR OPERATIONS
59 Mosquitoes to Herford and 50 to Hannover, 4 R.C.M. sorties, 24 aircraft on Resistance operations. 2 Stirlings on Resistance work were lost. 2 USAAF
ENGLAND: The VIII Air Force Composite Command is disbanded and its personnel are transferred to the new provisional USSTAF Air Disarmament Command.

ETO: 9th Bombardment Division bombers are grounded or recalled because of bad weather; Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack bridges, rail targets, factories, and German Army command posts; and XIX TAC aircraft support the attacks by the U.S. Army at Metz as well as the withdrawal of the U.S. V Corps from its Kall River bridgehead.

FRANCE: Following numerous weather-related delays, the U.S. Third Army and the XIX TAC open Operation MADISON, an effort to break through the German-held Metz forts and close on the Rhine River. Throughout the day, XIX TAC fighter-bombers mount 389 effective sorties against defended buildings, rail lines, motor vehicles and other road targets, and bridges. Also, two German Army command posts are knocked out by the 405th Fighter Group. Thanks in large measure to air support, U.S. Third Army units cross the Seille River in three places.

Capt Edward E. Hunt, a P-51 ace with the 354th Fighter Group’s 353d Fighter Squadron, is killed when, for unknown reasons, his airplane crasheses into the ground near Mericourt.

As a first step toward establishing a new VIII Air Force Service Command service center on the Continent, the Denain/Prouvy Airdrome is assigned to Eighth Air Force control.

GERMANY: One hundred ninety-three 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Merseburg; 77 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Rheine; 19 heavy bombers attack targets of opportunity; and 266 3d Bombardment Division B-17s bound for Merseburg are recalled on account of bad weather. Three B-17s and 11 of 788 VIII Fighter Command escorts are lost.

USAAF pilots down 12 GAF fighters over Germany between 1230 and 1500 hours. Capt Richard A. Peterson, a P-51 ace with the 357th Fighter Group’s 364th Fighter Squadron, brings his final personal tally to 15.5 confirmed victories when he downs a Bf-109 over Neuhausen Airdrome at 1300 hours; and 1stLt Joseph Z. Matte, a P-47 pilot with the 362d Fighter Group’s 378th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 and probably downs two others near Saarbrucken between 1420 and 1500 hours.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack rail lines in Brenner Pass and throughout northern Italy. Also, XXII TAC P-47s attack communications targets around Bologna and bridges and rail lines in the Parma area.

YUGOSLAVIA: Thirty-four Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack German Army troop concentrations at three locations, but 70 others that are dispatched abort in the face of bad weather.

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
25 Sqn SAAF (Biferno) flies its last OM in the VenturaV
127 Sqn (B.60 Grimberghen) flies its first OM in the Spitfire XVI

9-11-44
625 Sqn (Kelstern – Lancaster I/III)
OPERATIONS. 22 aircraft were detailed to attack the target - WANNE EICKEL. Weather conditions on the outward journey was very bad, with 10/10ths cloud all the way. When over the target area, cloud was still very bad even up to 20,000 feet. Owing to this fact; accurate bombing by visual means was not possible, and all the aircraft bombed on H2S or GEE. One of our aircraft was seen over the target area losing height with its wheels down, and this aircraft was later reported missing from this Operation. Results of this attack could not assessed. Altogether two of our aircraft failed to return from this operation.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I NG239 CF-A. Crew: F/O A Bruce RCAF KIA, P/O J Holton KIA, F/O LL Guthrie RCAF KIA, F/O EJ Brown RCAF KIA, Sgt NG Marler RCAF KIA, Sgt ED Wilmot RCAF KIA, Sgt VD Campbell RCAF KIA. T/o 0824 Kelstern. Shot down by flak at Herten-Scherlebeck, two miles north of Gelsenkirchen. All are buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

Lancaster III LM731 CF-N. Crew: F/L LM Wilson KIA, Sgt B Epsen-Hempsail KIA, F/O GS Cozens-Hardy KIA, P/O JW Robertson KIA, F/S WE Gray KIA, Sgt BL Jay KIA, Sgt JAD Ross KIA. T/o 0804 Kelstern. Last sighted with its wheels down descending into cloud over the target area. All lie in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. F/L Wilson was from Brazil.

BOMBER COMMAND
WANNE-EICKEL
256 Lancasters and 21 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups to attack the oil refinery. Cloud over the target was found to reach 21,000 ft and the sky-markers dropped by the Oboe Mosquitoes disappeared as soon as they ignited so the Master Bomber ordered the force to bomb any built-up area. The town of Wanne-Eickel reports only 2 buildings destroyed, with 4 civilians and 6 foreigners killed. It must be assumed that other towns in the Ruhr were hit but no details are available. 2 Lancasters lost.
________________________________________
9/10 November 1944
MINOR OPERATIONS
6 Mosquitoes each to Gotha and Pforzheim, 4 to Schwelm (which was not reached) and 3 to Kassel, 22 aircraft of 100 Group on a Window feint to draw up German fighters, 8 Mosquito patrols, 3 Stirlings on Resistance operations. No aircraft lost. 2 USAAF
FRANCE: Elements of the Eighth and Ninth air forces provide powerful air attacks to assist the U.S. Third Army’s XX Corps in undertaking Operation MADISON, the battle to pierce the formidable German Army defenses around Metz. Three hundred forty-five 1st Bombardment Division B-17s and 385 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack numerous tactical targets in and around the city of Metz, and 47 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack tactical targets at Thionville. Four B-17s are lost, but there are no losses from among 476 VIII Fighter Command escorts.

After the rest of their crew bails out, 1stLt Donald J. Gott and 2dLt William E. Metzger, Jr., attempt to help a seriously wounded crewman leave a mortally damaged B-17 of the 3d Bombardment Division’s 452d Heavy Bombardment Group. Both officers and the wounded man are killed when the airplane explodes in midair. Gott and Metzger are subsequently awarded posthumous Medals of Honor.

Due to marginal weather conditions, a total of only 74 9th Bombardment Division bombers—of 514 dispatched through the day—attack barracks, arsenals, artillery bases, a storage depot, and road junctions in and near the Metz battle area along the Franco-German frontier.

Despite marginal weather conditions, XIX TAC P-47s mount 162 effective sorties against targets in the Metz area. Also in support of Operation MADISON, Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers attack the marshalling yard at Duren, Germany.

Advance elements of the Eighth Air Force’s 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron displace from England to Laon/Couvron Airdrome.

Thanks in large part to air support, elements of the U.S. Third Army cross the Moselle River in two places. Thereafter, for several weeks, German-held forts, towns, and villages comprising the Metz defensive area fall to the Third Army.

GERMANY: In conjunction with heavy-bomber attacks on tactical targets in and around Metz, France, 41 1st Bombardment Division B-17s, 15 2d Bombardment Division B-24s, and 276 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Saarbrucken (secondary ); 28 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack the city area at Koblenz; and 34 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack the town area at Saarlautern.

One hundred thirty-nine VIII Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack targets of opportunity around Frankfurt am Main and Lannheim. Five fighter-bombers are lost.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather. Although severely limited by bad weather, Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack bridges in the Po River valley, but XXII TAC P-47s complete fewer than 100 sorties against rail and road bridges near Bologna.

BASE CHANGES
32 Sqn (Spitfire VC/IX) moves to Salonika

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
171 Sqn (North Creake) flies its first OM in the Halifax III

11-11-44
467 Sqn RAAF (Waddington – Lancaster I/III)
An anticipated early morning operation was scrubbed, and instead we dispatched 19 aircraft for HARBURG in GEMANY. This was a 5 Group target and the force was split up. Some attacked the oil refinery works whilst others had an incendiary load and attacked town. AUS605294 F/L M.G. Broad was an early return with engine trouble. The Port Outer overheating, and soon afterwards the Port Inner started vibrating and had to be feathered. AUS419657 F/O W.M. KYNOCH experienced some flak and was badly damaged, necessitating a landing at WOODBRIDGE. His rear gunner SGT STELM, R.W. received a wound in the back, but luckily is in not of a serious nature.

From this attack AUS427077 F/O T.F. EYRE (18 sorties) and AUS419989 F/O MJ FEDDERSEN (4 sorties) were reported missing. This was F/O FEDDERSEN’s first trip since he reported “missing” some weeks ago. On that occation they are rescued from the Channel.

The marking for the attack was a little late, but this did not mean that the attack was a poor one – just the opposite was the case - to as the one the town no was alight and explosions were seen around the refineries, It in thought that these refineries will be out of operation now.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster I NF917 PO-Q. Crew: F/O TF Eyre RAAF KIA, Sgt H Boardman KIA, F/S G Goodfellow RAAF KIA, F/S EJ Leake RAAF KIA, F/S EG Charman RAAF, F/S G French RAAF KIA, F/S TA Nilen RAAF POW. T/o 1630 Waddington. Hit by 1./schw. Flak Abt. 601, 3. & 4./schw. Flak Abt. 602, 3./schw. Flak Abt. 613 and 1./schw. Flak Abt. 144 (Eisb.), exploded in mid-air over Ramelsloh, S. of Harburg at 19.35 hrs.

Lancaster I NN714 PO-W. Crew: F/O MJ Feddersen RAAF KIA, Sgt EF Vevers KIA, W/O IH Gray RAAF KIA, F/S MR Stedman RAAF KIA, F/S WL Houston RAAF KIA, Sgt GE Carrington KIA, Sgt RWC Heath KIA. T/o 1616 Waddington. Shot down by Obit. Walter Briegleb 7.?NJG2 (17th victory) 10 km E. Bremerhaven (BS 6): 5.000 m.

Note: also claimed by Flak of 1./schw. Flak Abt. 414 Turmflak, 2, 4. & 6./schw. Flak Abt. 267, 5./schw. Flak Abt. 267 RAD and 4./schw. Flak Abt. 232 RAD ('Lancaster Kührstedt bei Wesermünde 19.40 hrs)

BOMBER COMMAND
11 November 1944
CASTROP-RAUXEL
122 Lancasters of 3 Group carried out a G-H attack on the synthetic-oil refinery. The bombing was believed to be accurate and no aircraft were lost.

2 Wellington R.C.M. sorties.
________________________________________
11/12 November 1944
HARBURG
237 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 5 Group. 7 Lancasters lost.

The aiming point for this raid was the Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery, which had been attacked several times by American day bombers. Brunswig’s history of the Hamburg–Harburg air raids gives this raid only a brief mention,* saying that considerable damage was caused in Harburg’s residential and industrial areas but the oil refinery is not mentioned. 119 people were killed and 5,205 were bombed out.

DORTMUND
209 Lancasters and 19 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups. No aircraft lost.

The aiming point was the Hoesch Benzin synthetic-oil plant in the Wambel district. A local report confirms that the plant was severely damaged. Other bombs hit nearby housing and the local airfield. 83 people were killed and 85 injured.

Minor Operations: 41 Mosquitoes to the Kamen oil refinery, 12 to Osnabrück, 9 to Wiesbaden, 6 to Gotha and 3 to Erfurt, 36 R.C.M. sorties, 59 Mosquito patrols, 26 Lancasters and 24 Halifaxes minelaying off Oslo, in the Kattegat and in the River Elbe. No aircraft lost. 2 3 4 5 2nd TAF
Three Typhoons were lost on this date, with two of the pilots killed. One of these was 609 Squadron's Commanding Officer, Sqn Ldr T.Y.Wallace, who was shot down off Dunkirk – an indication of the dangers still posed by the by-passed German coastal garrisons. Wallace had chosen to attack from the landward side to reduce the danger to Allied troops; this meant he had recovered from his dive over the garrison itself, presenting an ideal target to the German Flak gunners. His place was taken by Charles Demoulin, who had flown with 609 Squadron in 1943 and was now promoted from his position at a flight commander with 164 Squadron.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Although more than 400 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s are recalled or abort in the face of bad weather, more than 100 heavy bombers are able to attack two bridges and marshalling yards at five locations.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack oil-industry targets at Brux.

FRANCE: XIX TAC fighters and fighter-bombers support U.S. Third Army ground forces battling in and around Metz and Thionville.

GERMANY: One hundred 1st Bombardment Division B-17s attack an oil refinery at Gelsenkirchen; 124 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack a synthetic-oil plant at Bottrop; 146 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack a marshalling yard at Oberlahnstein; and 50 heavy bombers attack secondary targets (marshalling yards at Koblenz and Rheine) and targets of opportunity. One B-24 and one of 308 VIII Fighter Command escorts and scouts are lost.

A total of 190 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack rail bridges at four locations and several strongpoints, and Ninth Air Force fighters and fighter-bombers support U.S. Army ground forces near Schmidt.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack Aviano Airdrome and bridges at three locations; Twelfth Air Force B-25s and B-26s attack bridges at two locations; and XXII TAC P-47s support U.S. Army ground forces south of Bologna and attack Villafranca di Verona Airdrome and communications targets.

During the night of November 11–12, XXII TAC A-20s attack Bergamo Airdrome, road targets, and a Po River crossing point.

BASE CHANGES
38 Sqn (Wellington XIII) moves to Kalamaki
407 Sqn RCAF (Wellington XIV) moves to Chivenor

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
150 Sqn (Fiskerton) flies its first OM’s in the Lancaster I &III
603 Sqn (Gambut) flies its last OM in the Beaufighter TFX

Corrected yesterdays 11-11-44 entry Night Raid Reports

12-11-44
9 Sqn (Bardney – Lancaster I)
Thirteen aircraft took-off at between 0300 and 0330 hours from advanced bases to attack the battleship "TIRPITZ" anchored in Tromso fjord: seven aircraft were unable to leave airfield being unserviceable through frost. Each of the attacking aircraft carried one 12,000 lb. Tallboy bomb. Aircraft were modified to carry overload petrol- no Mid Upper Gunner being carried. Two of the aircraft were late on taking off arriving late at the rendezvous point and consequently did not proceed to the attack, but returned and brought bombs back. Attack on Battleship was made by remaining 11 aircraft between 0945 and 0948 hours and was made on a predetermined heading. Bombing was carried out from 14000 to 16000 feet. Crews reported clear weather conditions over target area and bombing ms well concentrated around the target. Hit was observed amidships followed by explosion and fire, and many near misses seen. One crew reported ship appeared to be listing to starboard with fire midships. Flak opposition which was heavy at commencement cased during attack. All aircraft returned to base with the exception or F/O. Coster's aircraft which sustained engine damage over the target and made a forced landing in Sweden, all the crew being safe. Results were difficult to observe at conclusion of attack owing to smoke but later reconnaissance indicated that Battleship had been sunk

BOMBER COMMAND
TIRPITZ
30 Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons and a 463 Squadron Lancaster with cameramen on board flew from Lossiemouth to attack the Tirpitz, which was still moored near Tromsö. The weather was clear. Tirpitz was hit by at least 2 Tallboys and then suffered a violent internal explosion. She capsized to remain bottom upwards – a total loss. Approximately 1,000 of the 1,900 men on board were killed or injured. German fighters which were stationed near by to protect the Tirpitz failed to take off in time and only 1 Lancaster, of 9 Squadron, was severely damaged, by Flak; it landed safely in Sweden with its crew unhurt.

Minor Operations: 2 R.C.M. sorties, 2 Mosquitoes on Ranger patrols. No losses.

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

ETO: 9th Bombardment Division bombers are grounded by bad weather, and fighter operations are severely restricted.

GERMANY: During the night of November 12–13, 14 Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack an oil-industry target at Blechhammer, and five other heavy bombers attack scattered targets along the route home from Germany.

ITALY: One hundred seven Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a viaduct and bridges at five locations in northern Italy; Twelfth Air Force medium bombers are grounded by bad weather; and XXII TAC P-47s attack rail targets in the Po River valley.

During the night of November 12–13, XXII TAC A-20s attack a pontoon bridge, several ammunition dumps, and targets of opportunity in the Po River valley.

BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn SAAF (Spitfire IX) moves to Peretola

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
127 Sqn (B.60 Grimberghen) flies its last OM in the Spitfire LFIXB

13-11-44
401 Sqn RCAF (B.80 Volkel – Spitfire LFIXB)
Once again the Wing did no operational flying. Mist and cold rain kept most of our pilots in the billets huddled around a stove.

The whole areas here has become a sea of black mud and some tents have been flooded out. However, rumour has it that by December we should be all in winter quarters.

BOMBER COMMAND
1 Wellington flew an uneventful signals patrol.

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

ETO: The Ninth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force is grounded by bad weather, but despite thick fog that grounds many Twelfth Air Force medium bombers, one attack is completed against a rail bridge at Padua. Also, XXII TAC P-47s attack communications targets north of the battle area and an oil pipeline crossing the Po River at Ostiglia.

BASE CHANGES
111 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Rimini
195 Sqn (Lancaster I/III) moves to Wratting Common
309 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Peterhead

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
43 Sqn (Peretola) flies its last OM in the Spitfire VIII
179 Sqn (St.Eval) flies its last OM in the Wellington XIV

14-11-44
68 Sqn (Coltishall – Mosquito NFXVII)
N.F.T's carried out during the day. At night 4 aircraft on Anti-Diver Patrol over the North Sea. Ferro 17 Lt. Black and Lt. Aiken under Hopton Control instructed to free lance in area. Last plot at 1849 hours position H.5830 going East and lost on tube. At 19.05 Ferro 17 called on R/T to say that 12 contacts obtained and that "window" was present this is not confirmed. It is considered by Hopton Control that aircraft was at that time in position H.9040. Called by aircraft Ferro 19 and ground station without success. Ferro 15 S/Ldr, Mansfeld and F/Lt. Jannok handed over to Hopton Contral vectored to area and warned of trade. After various vectors saw 2 F/B's released and obtained contacts on them. These were followed by a contact on an aircraft crossing starboard to port at 1000 feet. Unable to turn hard enough and contact lost. A further contact on target, height 1500 feet but presumably friendly as speed was 230 I.A.S. Ferro 19 Lt. Peebles and Lt. Crinndal under Hopton Control instructed to free lance in area. Contact obtained at 2000 feet height dropping to 500 feet. Flying Bomb released. Enemy aircraft then followed direction of F/B for short time, then turned port lost height and contact lost. When at 2000 feet height obtained fleeting contact at 5 miles range on target crossing port to starboard.

ADDENDUM – Mosquito NFXVII HK289 WM-? Crew: Lt. JF Black KIA, Lt. TN Aiken KIA. Shot down by own AA and crashed near Lowestoft. Both USN Reserve Officers, attached.

BOMBER COMMAND
1 Wellington flew an uneventful signals patrol.

2nd TAF
In 35 (Recce) Wing, 268 Squadron was able to give up the last of the Typhoons it had been using when three Mustang IIs were received from 2 Squadron. 127 Squadron in 132 Wing received a new Commanding Officer in the person of Sqn Ldr Otto Smik, DFC & Bar, a Czech pilot of Slovakian descent who had done extremely well in aerial combat, having taken part in the destruction of ten enemy aircraft and three V-1s.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack the benzol plant at Linz.

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

ETO: Nearly the entire Ninth Air Force is grounded by bad weather.

ITALY: The Fifteenth Air Force and all Twelfth Air Force bombers are grounded by bad weather. Throughout the day, XXII TAC P-47s complete just 17 sorties against roads and rail lines north of the battle area.

BASE CHANGES
335 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Hassani
336 Sqn (Spitfire VB/VC) moves to Hassani

16-11-44
156 Sqn (Upwood – Lancaster III)
After a “Stand Down" since the 6th the Squadron returned to battle with a contribution of 11 aircraft for a daylight attack on DUREN. Including the fighters nearly 3,000 British and US aircraft took part in this gigantic bombardment, the purpose of which was to assist the Allied Armies in a new drive on the Third Reich. The marking was reported as very good. W/C D. B. Falconer DFC AFC carried out duties as long Stop over the target-from-1528 to 1545 hours, and did not drop TO Yellow smoke because the bombing was so good. Visibility at base on their return was very bad, and 4 aircraft landed here. The remainder were diverted elsewhere.

BOMBER COMMAND
AMERICAN ARMY SUPPORT
Bomber Command was asked to bomb 3 towns near the German lines which were about to be attacked by the American First and Ninth Armies in the area between Aachen and the Rhine. 1,188 Bomber Command aircraft attacked Düren, Jülich and Heinsburg in order to cut communications behind the German lines. Düren was attacked by 485 Lancasters and 13 Mosquitoes of 1, 5 and 8 Groups, Jülich by 413 Halifaxes, 78 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitoes of 4, 6 and 8 Groups and Heinsberg by 182 Lancasters of 3 Group. 3 Lancasters were lost on the Düren raid and 1 Lancaster on the Heinsberg raid. 1,239 American heavy bombers also made raids on targets in the same area, without suffering any losses. More than 9,400 tons of high-explosive bombs were dropped by the combined bomber forces.

The R.A.F. raids were all carried out in easy bombing conditions and the 3 towns were virtually destroyed. Düren, whose civilian population was still present, suffered 3,127 fatal casualties – 2,403 local civilians, 398 civilians from other places temporarily staying in Düren and 326 unidentified, of whom at least 217 were soldiers. Heinsberg, described in the British press with other targets as ‘a heavily defended town’, contained only 110 civilians and a local military unit of 1 officer and a few soldiers; 52 of the civilians were killed. No report is available from Jülich.

The American advance was not a success. Wet ground prevented the use of tanks and the American artillery units were short of ammunition because of supply difficulties. The infantry advance was slow and costly.

2nd TAF
146 Wing received a new Wing Leader, J.C.Wells, DFC & Bar, taking over from Johnny Baldwin, who had already been grounded for a month having completed more than 150 operational sorties in little over three months; posted to 84 Group Control Centre, he would return to command a Typhoon wing the following February.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at Innsbruck.

GERMANY: To help soften up German Army defenses in the Aachen region prior to the start of Operation QUEEN, a ground offensive by the U.S. First and Ninth armies, 490 1st Bombardment Division B-17s and 228 2d Bombardment Division B-24s attack numerous tactical targets in and around Eschweiler, and 486 3d Bombardment Division B-17s attack numerous tactical targets in and around Duren. Also, 1,119 RAF heavy bombers attack Duren, Heunsburg, and Julich with 5,437 tons of bombs, and two VIII Fighter Command escort groups strafe transportation targets. One of 265 VIII Fighter Command escorts is downed.

Despite bad weather over their bases, 80 9th Bombardment Division B-26s (of 119 dispatched) support the U.S. First and Ninth armies with attacks against three defended towns, and 212 IX TAC and 137 XXIX TAC fighters and fighter-bombers attack numerous tactical targets throughout the QUEEN battle area.

Altogether, target saturation and coverage on the opening day of Operation QUEEN is greater than that provided for Operation COBRA, the Normandy breakout, in late July. However, only very limited initial breakthroughs are achieved on the ground. (The ground phase of Operation QUEEN will continue forward for four weeks, but it will be stopped in mid-December by a tenacious German Army defensive stand in the Huertgen Forest.)

Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack marshalling yards at Munich.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers mount more than 250 effective sorties against rail targets throughout northern Italy, especially in Brenner Pass; and XXII TAC P-47s attack ammunition dumps, gun emplacements, and tactical targets in support of the British Eighth Army as well as communications targets, a pontoon storage point, and two oil pipelines crossing the Po River.

Capt John J. Voll, a P-51 ace with the 31st Fighter Group’s 308th Fighter Squadron, becomes the MTO’s top-scoring ace with a final personal tally of 21 confirmed victories, when he downs a Ju-88, two FW-190s, and a Bf-109, near Aviano between 1100 and 1115 hours. In all, seven GAF aircraft are downed in this engagement by 31st and 332d Fighter group P-51 pilots.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack German Army troop concentrations around Visegrad.

BASE CHANGES
11 Sqn SAAF (Kittyhawk IV) moves to Pontedera
43 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Rimini
72 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Rimini
93 Sqn (Spitfire IX) moves to Rimini
154 Sqn (Non-Op) moves to Biggin Hill

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
3 Sqn RAAF (Iesi) flies its last OM in the Kittyhawk IV
253 Sqn (Canne) flies its first OM in the Spitfire VIII
268 Sqn (B.70 Deurne) flies its first OM in the Mustang II

17-11-44
401 Sqn RCAF (B.80 Volkel – Spitfire LFIXB)
The famous weather state in Holland of “duff” weather prevented all but one short spurt of an Armed Weather Reccos in the Borken area at 08.40 hrs. They dropped their bombs on an unidentified railway and no hits were claimed. A loco with 11 plus goods cars heading for ARNHEM was straffed but no claims made.

As the weather was unsuitable for bombing this finished the day's flying.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard and oil and other industrial targets in Vienna, and marshalling yards at Graz. Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack marshalling yards at Salzburg.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s attack oil-industry targets at Brux.

FRANCE: Despite bad weather that grounds or turns back the remainder of the 9th Bombardment Division, 30 416th Light Bombardment Group A-26s attack a stores depot at Haguenau. (This is the first fully operational A-26 mission undertaken in the war.)

GERMANY: Ninth Air Force fighters provide limited support—207 effective sorties—to U.S. Army ground forces near Aachen and Huertgen.

Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack oil-industry targets at Blechhammer.

HUNGARY: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack a marshalling yard at Gyor.

ITALY: Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack viaducts and rail bridges in northeastern Italy and Brenner Pass. XXII TAC fighter-bombers attack gun emplacements and other tactical targets as well as rail lines, rail yards, and ammunition and fuel dumps.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-24s attack marshalling yards at Maribor, and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack rail bridges along the Brod-Zagreb-Maribor lines.

BASE CHANGES
87 Sqn (Spitfire IX/LFIXB) moves to Perstoia
185 Sqn (Spitfire LFIXB) moves to Peretola
260 Sqn (Mustang III) moves to Fano
451 Sqn RAAF (Non-Op) leaves for the UK

18-11-44
460 Sqn RAAF (Binbrook – Lancaster I/III)
Operations: 25 aircraft were scheduled for an attack against Wine Eickel, and the bombing results must be assumed to be excellent as very few bombs were seen outside the marked area. On return to base the aircraft were diverted owing to bad weather conditions, one aircraft – F.O. Carter – failed to return.

ADDENDUM – Lancaster III PB541 AR-E2. Crew: F/O AG Carter RAAF KIA, Sgt NS Evans KIA, F/O AH Francis RAAF KIA, F/S GB Byrne RAAF KIA, F/O JM Beeston RAAF KIA, F/S DN Charlesworth RAAF KIA, F/S RJ Payne RAAF KIA.

BOMBER COMMAND
18 November 1944
MÜNSTER
479 aircraft – 367 Halifaxes, 94 Lancasters, 18 Mosquitoes – of 4, 6 and 8 Groups. 1 Halifax crashed in Holland.
The raid was not concentrated and bombs fell in all parts of Münster. The only item of interest mentioned in the local report was a direct hit on a concrete shelter which killed 68 people. The total number of deaths in the town was 138.
3 Halifaxes flew R.C.M. sorties.
________________________________________
18/19 November 1944
WANNE-EICKEL
285 Lancasters and 24 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups. 1 Lancaster lost.

The intention of the raid was to hit the local oil plant. Large explosions seemed to erupt in the plant and post-raid reconnaissance showed that some further damage was caused to it. The local report does not mention the oil plant but states that the Hannibal coal mine was destroyed and that 57 people were killed, 35 of them in a ‘Bunkerpanik’.

Minor Operations: 31 Mosquitoes to Wiesbaden (a ‘spoof’ raid), 21 to Hannover and 6 to Erfurt, 29 R.C.M. sorties, 44 Mosquito patrols. No aircraft lost. 2 3 4 2nd TAF
The day brought losses for the reconnaissance units as 2 Squadron undertook its first sorties with its new Spitfire XIVs. However, one of the Typhoons which 4 Squadron still had to hand was brought down by Flak east of Kessel, Flg Off R.M.Cowell becoming a prisoner. A 16 Squadron 'Bluebird' was also lost in the Venlo area, and it was later discovered that Plt Off W.C.Heath had been killed. The day also saw the loss of four more Typhoon fighter-bombers, two of them from 143 Wing; three of the pilots were killed. Having baled out over Allied territory Flg Off Norm Dawber drifted into no-man's land and was fortunate to be rescued by two British soldiers.

At night a 69 Squadron Wellington XIII was brought down by Flak near B.58, the whole crew of five being killed.

USAAF
AUSTRIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack two oil refineries in the Vienna area.

GERMANY: More than 340 9th Bombardment Division B-26s and A-20s attack strongpoints and defended towns, barracks, and rail bridges and rail yards; and Ninth Air Force fighters support U.S. Army ground forces around Aachen and Sarreguemines, France.

Three hundred seventy-four VIII Fighter Command fighters attack two airdromes and two oil-storage depots. 4th and 353d Fighter group P-51s destroy 14 Me-262 jet fighters on the ground. During melees with an estimated 70 GAF fighters, 24 GAF fighters are downed between 1100 and 1545 hours, as are seven VIII Fighter Command fighters.

Capt Dale E. Shafer, Jr., a P-51 pilot with the 339th Fighter Group’s 503d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he destroys a Bf-109 near Mannheim at 1235 hours. (Shafer’s four earlier victories were scored in the MTO in 1943, when he was flying 31st Fighter Group Spitfires.) Capt Michael J. Jackson, a P-47 pilot with the 56th Fighter Group’s 62d Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs an FW-190 near Hanau at 1240 hours; and Capt Evan M. Johnson, a P-51 pilot with the 339th Fighter Group’s 505th Fighter Squadron, achieves ace status when he downs a Bf-109 over Heilbronn at 1245 hours.

ITALY: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s and B-24s attack four airdromes; Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack bridges at six locations; and XXII TAC P-47s attack numerous dumps, gun emplacements, several pipelines, and rail lines. XXII TAC P-47 pilots claim the destruction of eight locomotives, more than 100 rail cars, and at least 75 motor vehicles.

During the night of November 18–19, XXII TAC A-20s attack Ghedi Airdrome and targets of opportunity around five northern Italian cities.

YUGOSLAVIA: Fifteenth Air Force B-17s, B-24s, and P-38 dive-bombers attack German Army troop concentrations at Visegrad, and Twelfth Air Force medium bombers attack a bridge.

BASE CHANGES
3 Sqn RAAF (Mustang III) moves to Fano
5 Sqn SAAF (Mustang III) moves to Fano
112 Sqn (Mustang III) moves to Fano
250 Sqn (Kittyhawk IV) moves to Fano
450 Sqn RAAF (Kittyhawk IV) moves to Fano

FIRST AND LAST OPERATIONAL MISSIONS
98 Sqn (B.58 Melsbroek) flies its first OM in the Mitchell III
128 Sqn (Wyton) flies its last OM in the Mosquito BXX