December 18, 1944



    188 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 Squadrons were joined by 42 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 Squadrons on an attack at Duisberg. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,636,000 lbs of high explosives and 258,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused.

    F/Lt A. Scheelar, F/O H. Sokoloff, F/O E. Finch, S/Ldr H. Reeves, F/Lt E. Mowatt, F/O S. Dean, F/Lt R. Gall, F/O R. Armitage, P/O L. Case, and F/O R. Bowhay from 408 Squadron landed at Fulbeck on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/Cdr F. Sharp landed at Tempsford on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O C. Pitu landed at Benson on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt H. Bracken landed at Balderton on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O W. Dunwoodie landed at Winthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O W. Tunis landed at Manston on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt J. Northrup from 415 Squadron returned early as he was sick.
    F/O A. Cruikshank was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/Lt C. Thompson had the port outer u/s on return. They landed safely at Waddington on 3 engines.
    F/O S. Mooers was hit by flak, there were holes in the elevators. They landed at Skellingthorpe on return.
    F/O D. Falconer landed at Wigsley on return due poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Tims, F/O J. Britt, F/Lt T. Mears, and F/O G. Grier landed at Waddington on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/O1 J. McKenzie landed at Litchfield on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O W. Goodwin and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-456 coded 6U-P, were attacked by an unidentified aircraft, there was no damage. They landed at Gamston on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O S. McFadden landed at Bottesford on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/O F. Dawson and F/Lt H. Collard from 419 Squadron landed at Swinderby on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt H. Cave, F/O G. Tedford, F/O C. Williams, F/O F. How, F/O W. Osborn, F/Lt W. Armstrong, F/Lt J. Anderson, and F/O T. Cowtan landed at Metheringham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt A. Warner landed at Abington on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt D. Hunter landed at West Raynham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Barlow landed at Westcott on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Watts landed at Barkston Heath on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt A. Halkett and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-732 coded VR-X, were attacked by an unidentified single engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Barford St. John on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt H. Collard and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-746 coded VR-S, were attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen. They landed at Swinderby on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt V. Glover from 420 squadron returned early as the throttle linkage on the port outer was broken.
    F/Lt F. McCarthy did not bomb as they could not get the bomb doors opened.
    F/Lt H. Ledingham and crew, flying Halifax III NR-123 coded PT-F, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Bardney on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O C. Reid, F/O G. Haslop, P/O R. MacMillan, F/Lt D. Buchanan, F/O S. Young, F/O J. Bonner, F/O J. A. Sefton, F/O R. Field, and S/Ldr V. Motherwell landed at Bardney on return due to poor weather at base. 
    F/O W. MacDonald landed at Winthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O O. Austenson landed at Tholthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/O D. Saunders from 424 Squadron bombed flak positions as they were late taking off. They landed at Hethal on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O A. Mackie was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Elsham Wolds on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O C. Walker and crew, flying Halifax III LW-194 coded QB-W, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, many strikes were seen and it dove to the ground. It was claimed destroyed. They landed at Coningsby on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O D. Sanders, F/Lt J. Thomas, F/O H. Taylor, F/Lt E. Smith, F/O H. Mitchell, F/O K. MacDonald, F/Lt C. Lundeen, and F/Lt R. Green landed at Coningsby on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/Cdr C. Marshall and F/O W. Beckett landed at Ford on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O C. Moir and F/Lt D. Ross landed at Manston on return due to poor weather at base.

    Sgt J. Cauchy from 425 Squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at Linton on Ouse on 3 engines.
    F/O G. Lareau returned early as they could not raise the under carriage.
    F/Lt J. Belanger, F/O J. Sicotte, F/O J. MacHale, and F/Lt T. MacKinnon landed at East Kirkby on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O W. Corbett landed at Thurleigh on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O G. Chabot had the oxygen system u/s on return. They landed at Stanton Harcourt.
    F/O J. Bellinger landed at Bovington on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Desmarais RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-538 coded KW-V, crashed shortly after takeoff.

      P/O J. Blackburn RAF
       F/O J. Bernier RCAF
      P/O J. Labrecque RCAF
      P/O J. Dubois RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Paradis RCAF
      F/Sgt J. Lariviere RCAF
      P/O R. Gauthier RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/Lt C. Fyfe and crew from 426 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-737 coded OW-Z, were attacked 3 times by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Swinderby on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Baillie landed at Horsham St. Faith on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O C. Selfe, F/O J. Lowe, F/O J. Wadleigh, F/O A. Hutchins, F/O M. Casselman, F/O W. Kent, S/Ldr R. Cowans, and F/Lt I. Emerson landed at Winthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O R. Swift landed at Ford on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O G. Fidler landed at Market Harborough on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O R. Fuller and F/Lt J. Kirkpatrick landed at Balderton on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O L. Deryckere and crew, flying Halifax III NA-202 coded OW-A, were attacked by an FW-190, some strikes were seen on the nose of the FW-190. They landed at Betteswell on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O T. Layman RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax VII LW-209 coded OW-Y, failed to return from this operation.

      F/Sgt J. Hoyle RAF
      F/O G. Law RAF–POW
      F/O J. Mahoney RCAF–POW
      F/O E. Fox RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Campbell RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt W. Downey RCAF–POW
    2 crew were killed and 5 POWs after being shot down by flak.

    F/O R. Gould from 427 Squadron returned early as the compasses were u/s. They landed at Skipton on Swale.
    F/Lt E. Shaw and crew, flying Halifax III NP-956 coded ZL-J, were attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Spilsby on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O R. McKenney landed at Poddington due to poor weather at base.
    F/O G. Tegerdine, F/O E. Mayo, P/O D. Murray, F/Lt D. Hepburn, F/O T. Wagar, F/O J. Smart, W/Cdr C. Carling-Kelly, F/Lt W. Walker, and F/O P. Millard landed at Spilsby on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O W. Wilson, S/Ldr M. Gall, F/O W. Britton, and F/O I. Thomson landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Murphy landed at Silverstone on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Mulholland landed at Gaydon on retrun due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt W. Brittain landed at East Kirkby on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/O N. Noel from 428 Squadron landed at Horham on return due to poor weather at base.
    W/O2 L. Read, W/Cdr A. Hull, F/O B. Miller, S/Ldr M. Ferguson, F/Lt G. Quinn, F/O R. Anderson, F/O V. Gaskin, F/Lt J. Goldie, F/O E. Page, F/O E. Peacock, and F/O G. Pearce landed at Great Massingham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt K. Ellson landed at Snitterfield on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt P. Robb from 429 Squadron returned early as the oxygen system was u/s. They landed at East Moor.
    F/O I. Benson and crew, flying Halifax III NR-197, were attacked twice by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen. They landed at Strubby on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O C. Lee and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-318 coded AL-F, were attacked by an FW-190, it was hit in the nose and claimed damaged. They landed at Strubby on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O A. Cook landed at Hurn on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O W. Thomas, F/O A. M. MacDonald, F/O F. Biddell, F/Lt D. Walkey, F/Lt D. Magee, F/Lt R. Kingsland, P/O W. Fikis, F/Lt R. Charlton, F/O J. Rowe, S/Ldr H. Peterson, F/Lt H. MacDonald, and F/Lt E. Jarvis landed at Strubby on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt R. Tonnellier, F/Lt J. Henry, F/O B. Kaplansky, P/O A. Pitzek, F/O G. McNeill, P/O W. Weitendorf, F/Lt D. Borland, P/O D. Rombough, F/O J. Morton, F/Lt B. Adilman, and F/O G. Kercher from 431 Squadron landed at West Raynham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Duggan landed at Upwood on return due to poor weather at base.
    S/Ldr H. Kay landed at Syerston on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/Lt E. Hayes and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-705 coded QO-Y, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Skellingthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt L. Kropf, F/O A. Clarke, F/O J. Mills, F/O L. Loppe, F/O C. Hemming, F/O N. Patterson, F/O A. Bews, F/O G. Barron, F/Lt W. Miller, and F/O A. Potter landed at Skellingthorpe on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Hamilton landed at Hurn on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O G. Peaker landed at Fulbeck on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O F. Baxter landed at Manston on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O M. Krakowsky RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-699 coded QO-O, was involved in a mid air collision over Belgium with LV-810 from 10 squadron.

      P/O M. Boylan RAF
      F/O R. Cann RCAF
      F/O G. Wilson RCAF
      P/O A. Blayney RCAF
      P/O S. Zadorozny RCAF
      P/O J. Green RCAF
    Only the pilot survived.

    F/O D. McKinnon RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-701 coded QO-G, failed to return from this operation.

      F/Sgt A. Eccleston RAF
      F/O D. Hitchcock RCAF
      F/O G. March RCAF
      P/O E. Harvey RCAF
      P/O E. Farrell RCAF
      Sgt J. Harvey RCAF
    Only the rear gunner and pilot survived.

    F/O W. Simpson from 433 Squadron landed at Doncaster on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt D. McGrath landed at Ossington on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O R. Bertran, F/Lt D. Rogers, F/Lt L. Allatt, F/O S. McKellar, P/O W. Jensen, and F/O A. Strelchuk landed at Metheringham on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O R. Simpson and F/Lt E. Barsby landed at East Moor on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt N. Mara landed at Binbrook on return due to poor weather at base.

    F/O I. Andres and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Halifax III NP-961 coded WL-N, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Little Snoring on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/O J. Wagman and crew, flying Halifax III NR-124 coded WL-X, were attacked by an ME-109, the gunners fired 700 rounds and it went down in flames. They landed at Little Snoring on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt T. Coghlan landed at Northolt on return due to poor weather at base.
    P/O R. Telford, S/Ldr D. Boyle, F/O C. Alger, F/O M. Isenberg, F/O C. Chapman,  F/O G. Munroe, and F/Lt A. Kiehlbauch landed at Little Snoring on return due to poor weather at base.
    F/Lt J. Parrott RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NR-118 coded WL-U, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O L. Janzen RCAF
      F/O S. Pearce RCAF
      P/O A. Kurtzhals RCAF
      P/O H. Brown RCAF
      W/O2 A. Divitcoff RCAF
      W/O2 G. Olafsen RCAF
    6 crew were killed and one bailed out over allied territory.