Daily Operations

January 14/15, 1945

136 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were ordered on an attack on the rail yards at Grevenbroich. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 19,000 feet, releasing 799,000 lbs. of high explosives. According to reports the rail yards were well hit.

P/O G. Daughters from 408 squadron had the stbd outer u/s over the target. They returned safely on 3 engines.
S/Ldr. H. Reeves had the stbd outer, stbd inner low on power and the port inner with low oil pressure. They completed the operation on 1 good engine and 3 delivering low power.

F/Sgt. E. Sirtonski, RCAF, from 415 squadron, flying Halifax III NA-611, coded 6U-T, swung off the runway and crashed on takeoff.

P/O M. Callahan and crew from 420 Squadron, flying Halifax III NR-183 coded PT-M, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft. There was no claim or damage.

P/O D. Black and crew from 426 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-814 coded OW-V, were attacked by an ME-163, there was no claim or damage.

F/O M. Ages and crew from 429 Squadron, flying Halifax III NR-194 coded AL-X, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft. There was no claim or damage.

F/O G. Peaker from 432 Squadron returned early as the under carriage would not retract.
F/O J. Wallace had the port inner go u/s over base. They continued to the target and landed safely on 3 engines.
F/O W. Mennie and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-704 coded QO-L, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft. There was no claim or damage.
F/Lt A. Bews and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-691 coded QO-V, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft with a slanted cannon. The tail wheel was shot off with a number of holes in the stbd wing and fuselage. They landed safely at base where their aircraft was written off as being too damaged to repair. This was caused by just 4 cannon rounds, 2 through the bottom of the fuselage and 2 through the starboard wing !!!.

While some of the group was attacking Grevenbroich, 10 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at 12,000 feet, sowing 20@1500 and 20@1850 lb. mines.

All crews returned safely to base.

As well as the Mining and Grevenbroich attack, 53 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered on an attack of the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 507,000 lbs. of high explosives. According to reports bombing was accurate and this target was severely damaged.

F/Lt. G. Sheahan from 419 squadron had the stbd inner catch fire. This was put out and they continued to the target. On return, at the French coast the stbd outer went u/s. They landed safely at base on 2 engines.
F/Lt. G. Tedford, RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-769, coded VR-1, failed to return from this operation.

F/O N. Vatne, RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-799, coded VR-W, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt. G. Quinn from 428 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.

F/O A. Huchala and crew from 431 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-810 coded SE-H, were attacked by an ME-262. The enemy aircraft made 2 passes. On the last pass it was hit and dove straight to the ground.
F/O M. MacLeod. RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-806, coded SE-X, failed to return from this operation. They collided with an ME-109 in the target area.

F/O A. Purnell and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-832 coded WL-F, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft. On the second pass, it was seen on fire below with parts breaking off and then crashed to the ground.