February 20/21, 1945

    112 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the oil refinery at Monheim. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 698,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

    F/O G. Lareau and crew from 425 Squadron flying Halifax III MZ-845 coded KW-J were attacked by an ME-210, some strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.

    F/O D. Weicker from 426 Squadron was attacked by an ME-110, there was no claim or damage.

    F/O J. Mulholland from 427 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/Lt W. Walker and crew, flying Halifax III NP-941 coded ZL-X, were attacked by an ME-110, many strikes were seen and the starboard engine caught fire and then the starboard wing broke off, it was claimed destroyed.
    F/Lt J. Murphy RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III NP-942 coded ZL-T, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt G. Tate RAF–POW
      F/O G. Mann RCAF–POW
      F/O E. Essenburg RCAF
      W/O2 E. Perdue RCAF–POW
      F/O A. Breault RCAF–POW
      P/O J. Wallace RCAF
    5 crew were POWs and 2 were killed.

    F/O R. Jones from 429 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Manston on 3 engines.
    F/O L. Morrison and crew, flying Halifax III PN-367 coded AL-J, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen.
    F/O W. McSween and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-318 coded AL-F, were attacked twice by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.

    F/Lt E. Maguire and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII RG-451 coded QO-D, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, possible rocket, it was claimed damaged.
    F/O E. Patzer RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII RG-455 coded QO-X, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt C. Grant RAF
      F/O G. Henson RCAF–POW
      F/O A. May RCAF–POW
      P/O F. Daley RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt J. McIntosh RCAF–POW
      P/O W. Mendenhall RCAF
    4 crew were POWs and 3 were killed.
     

    While the Halifaxes went to Monheim, 82 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Dortmund. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 231,000 lbs of high explosives and 579,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate and severe damage was caused.

    F/Lt H. Metivier and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-866 coded VR-M, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Lt J. Watts and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-786 coded VR-P, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.
    P/O J. MacNeil and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-823 coded VR-U, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O L. Blaney RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-804 coded VR-E, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt T. Instone RAF–POW
      P/O D. Hanna RCAF
      F/O P. Owen RCAF–POW
      P/O A. Kindret RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt L. Nozzolillo RCAF–POW
      P/O R. Althan RCAF–POW 
    2 crew were killed and 5 POWs after being shot down by flak.

    P/O W. Church and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Lancaster I NG-280 coded QB-U, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They were also hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd fin and rudder.
    F/Sgt W. Cozens RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster I ME-456 coded QB-K, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O J. Kubin RCAF
      F/O G. Ree RCAF
      F/O H. Rubenstein RCAF
      Sgt J. Butler RCAF–POW
      Sgt A. Skett RCAF–POW
      Sgt E. Rhodes RCAF
    1 crew member was killed and 2 were POWs after being hit by flak outbound to the target. On return they were attacked by a Nightfighter. 5 crew bailed out but 2 drifted back into enemy territory, F/Sgt Cozens crash-landed the Lancaster in allied territory.

    F/Lt R. Hay and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-747 coded NA-X, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O K. Roulston and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-848 coded NA-G, were attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage.

    F/Lt B. Kaplansky from 431 Squadron was attacked by a JU-88, the JU-88 exploded in mid air after both gunners fired upon it. A short time later they were attacked again by a JU-88. It was hit and part of the wing and tail broke off. It spun to the ground. Both were claimed destroyed.
    P/O J. Kopp RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-809 coded SE-Q, failed to return from this operation.

      P/O W. Dickson RCAF
      F/O I. MacCugan RCAF–POW
      W/O2 F. Lehman RCAF–POW
      P/O L. Hoffman RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Dailey RCAF–POW
      P/O F. Newman RCAF
    4 crew were killed and 3 POWs.

    F/O J. Farrell and crew from 433 Squadron, flying Lancaster I PB-903 coded BM-F, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Lt R. Bertran and crew, flying Lancaster I NG-496 coded BM-N, were attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or damage.

    F/Lt I. Andres and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-880 coded WL-N, were attacked 3 times by JU-88's, possibly the same one. There were strikes seen on all encounters.
    F/O D. Cameron and crew, flying Lancaster I NG-457 coded WL-P, were attacked by a JU-88. The intercom, port wing, radios and hydraulics were damaged. The port elevator was shot off and the 3 port fuel tanks were leaking. P/O H. Davey RCAF, the wireless operator was killed and F/Sgt J. Taggart RCAF, the mid upper gunner was seriously injured. They landed at Manston on return to tend to the injured aircrew.