Daily Operations

January 21/22, 1944

45 Lancasters from 408, 426 and 432 squadrons were joined by 69 Halifaxes from 419, 427, 428, 429, 431, 433, and 434 squadrons on an attack at Magdeburg. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 23,000 feet, releasing 290,000 lbs of high explosives and 454,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the attack was scattered with little damage.

P/O W. Phillips from 408 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
2nd/Lt M. Humphrey returned early as some instruments were u/s.
F/O F. Brice returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt B. Griep had the port outer go u/s over the target. They landed safely at Coltishall on 3 engines.
F/Sgt N. Sutherland was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O J. Mill RCAF–POW and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-790 coded EQ-B, failed to return from this operation.

F/O W. Stewart landed at Mildenhall on return.
Sgt F. Smitton and F/O W. Fulton landed at Tuddenham on return.
P/O W. Smith, P/O R. Lloyd, F/Lt E. Kearl, S/Ldr H. Miles, and P/O H. Sherlock landed at Newmarket on return.
F/Lt R. Burns landed at Bury St. Edmonds on return.
W/O2 J. Harvey landed at Waterbeach on return.

F/Sgt J. McNary from 419 squadron returned early as the port outer caught fire. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
S/Ldr E. Hamber and crew, flying Halifax II JN-953 coded VR-T, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage. They were also hit by flak, there were 80 holes throughout the aircraft.
F/Sgt J. Quinn and crew, flying Halifax II JD-114 coded VR-V, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.
F/Sgt F. Palmer was hit by flak, not serious.
F/Lt A. Hermitage RCAF and crew, flying Halifax II JD-466 coded VR-E, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt V. Hawkes RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax II JD-420 coded VR-D, failed to return from this operation.

S/Ldr A. Avant from 426 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
1St/Lt J. Smith returned early as the generators were u/s.
F/Sgt M. McKenzie landed at Hardwick on return due to a fuel shortage.
P/O R. Countess and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-688 coded OW-R, were attacked by an ME-210, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Downham Market on return.
F/O S. McDonald and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-700 coded OW-X, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage. They landed at Downham Market on return.
F/Lt M. Wilson and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-721 coded OW-U, were attacked by a JU-88, many strikes were seen and it was thought this aircraft crashed as a explosion on the ground was seen shortly after.
P/O A. Olsson, F/O B. Patterson, F/Lt A. Martens, and F/Sgt R. Jarman landed at Downham Market on return.

Sgt A. King from 427 Squadron returned early as the navigator's oxygen mask was u/s.
P/O T. Cooper returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Sgt C. Coathup and crew, flying Halifax V EB-248 coded ZL-U, were attacked by an ME-109, there were cannon shell holes in the stbd inner and outer engines. They were also hit by flak, there were holes in the tail plane and fuselage. They landed safely at Wratting Common on 3 engines.
F/Sgt A. Clibbery and crew, flying Halifax V LK-735 coded ZL-Z, were attacked by an ME-110, there were cannon shell holes in the fuselage and port inner. The mid upper turret, hydraulics, and oxygen system were damaged. The astro hatch was shot off and instrument panel shattered, propellor blades on both inner engines were shattered. They landed safely at Wratting Common on return.
F/O J. Milton and F/O C. Shannon landed at Wratting Common on return.
P/O W. Stephen landed at Newmarket on return.
F/Sgt A. Nicol landed at Chedburgh on return.

W/O2 G. Toal RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-923 coded ZL-B, failed to return from this operation.

S/Ldr D. Arnot RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-139 coded ZL-D, failed to return from this operation.

F/O J. Dickinson RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LL-169 coded ZL-L, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt P. Weir RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LL-176 coded ZL-Q, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt C. Ford from 428 squadron returned early as P/O N. Pearson RAF, the navigator was sick.
F/Sgt R. Terry RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V DK-237 coded NA-L, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt W. Stewart from 429 Squadron landed at Waterbeach on return.
P/O G. Clark, P/O E. Willey, F/Sgt E. Giles, F/O J. Keenan, and F/Sgt J. Wilkinson landed at Wratting Common on return.
F/O T. Siltala, P/O K. Bowly, and F/Sgt W. Byers landed at Stradishall on return.
P/O H. Mitchell and crew, flying Halifax V LL-171 coded AL-U, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim but they were hit in the port wing. They landed at Chedburgh on return.
F/Sgt L. Mitchell landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/Lt J. Stephen and F/Sgt N. Thompson landed at Little Snoring on return.

F/O F. Guillivan from 431 squadron returned early as their Halifax would not climb.
P/O W. Hewetson returned early as they were involved in a mid air collision. There was a large hole in the nose from the fin of a Halifax.
F/Sgt H. Krentz RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax V LK-680 coded SE-R, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt D. Von Laufer from 432 Squadron returned early as the rear turret was u/s. They landed safely at Linton on Ouse.
F/Lt C. Barrett was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. P/O E. Logan RCAF, the mid upper gunner was injured. They landed safely at Wratting Common.
P/O J. Esdale landed at Horham on return.
F/Sgt W. Pay landed at Hethel on return.
F/Sgt C. De Maria, P/O T. Spink, F/O W. Smith, P/O H. Whaley, F/Sgt P. Dennis, F/O A. Mercer, and F/Sgt J. Sieben landed at Mepal on return due to a crashed Halifax on the runway.
F/Sgt J. Poole RAF and crew, flying Lancaster II DS-843 coded QO-O, failed to return from this operation.

F/O L. Legace RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster II LL-724 coded QO-N, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt R. Reinelt, W/O2 D. James and F/Sgt J. Mitchell from 433 squadron landed at Coltishall on return due to fuel shortages.
F/Lt G. Wolton and F/Sgt W. Stiles landed at Feltwell on return.
W/O2 J. Wilson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III HX-289 coded BM-T, radioed from 50 miles over the North Sea that the stbd outer was u/s.

F/Lt A. Gira RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III HX-283 coded BM-R, failed to return from this operation.

F/Sgt A. Hegseth, S/Ldr L. Linnell, F/O D. Evans, P/O M. Flewelling, and F/Sgt W. McQueen from 434 Squadron landed at Feltwell on return.
P/O R. Kerr RCAF and crew, flying Halifax V LK-699 coded WL-Z, failed to return from this operation.