Daily Operations

August 30/31, 1943

51 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428 and 434 squadrons were joined by 11 Lancasters from 426 squadron and 14 Wellingtons from 432 squadron on an attack at Munchen Gladbach. The crews were over the target between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 174,000 lbs of high explosives and 233,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the target was clear of cloud and severe damage was caused.

Sgt. G. Marjoram from 419 squadron had the rear turret jam. They were attacked 6 times by enemy fighters and each time they evaded.
F/O D. Laidlaw, flying Halifax II JD-381 coded VR-R, was attacked by an enemy aircraft. Their hydraulics, instruments, bomb camera, and bomb doors were damaged.
Sgt H. Eyjolfsson RCAF
Sgt J. Ashton RAF
F/O W. Rempel RCAF
P/O R. Kemp RCAF
Sgt B. Brakes RAF
Sgt A. Miller RCAF
Sgt G. Clarke
Their Halifax was written of after this flight due to the severe damage from the fighter attack.

Sgt. H. Bullis was attacked by an FW-190, severe damage was caused to the port inner engine, fuselage, flaps aileron, rudders, and bomb bay. The FW-190 was shot down and they returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Westland was attacked by a JU-88, it was claimed destroyed with a slight damage to the Halifax.

F/Sgt. F. Stuart from 426 squadron returned early was the pilots escape hatch blew off.
P/O M. Shaw returned early as they were attacked by an enemy aircraft and jettisoned the load.
F/O L. McCaig was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage.

Sgt. G. Wolton from 427 squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.
Sgt. R. Deegan returned early as the navigation aids were u/s.
W/Cdr. D. Burnside was attacked 5 times by enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt. B. Buxton, RAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-629 coded ZL-F, failed to return from this operation.

Sgt J. Este from 428 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at Scorton on 3 engines.
F/Sgt. H. Pattinson returned early as the navigator plotted the wrong course.
P/O L. Williamson returned early as the instruments were u/s.
F/O K. Jones was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was a slight damage.
F/Lt. A. Reilander was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing and inner nacelle.

F/O I. Beckwith from 432 squadron returned early as the stbd engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on one engine.
Sgt. D. Baker returned early as their Wellington would not climb.
F/Lt. C. Barrett returned early as both engines had low oil pressure.
Sgt. B. Sorge was hit by flak. The port tire was flat. On landing the Wellington ground looped, seriously damaging the aircraft. The crew was uninjured.
F/Sgt. J. Pendleton, RAF and crew, flying Wellington X JA-118 coded QO-G, failed to return from this operation.

P/O H. German from 434 squadron was attacked by a enemy aircraft. The Halifax was damaged and the Flt/engineer, Sgt. J. Geddes RAF, was injured. They landed safely at Ford.
P/O F. Leaver, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-894 coded WL-K, failed to return from this operation.