Daily Operations

January 16/17, 1945

127 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Magdeburg. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 232,000 lbs of high explosives and 546,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damage was caused.

F/O H. Sokoloff from 408 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O R. Wallis and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-776 coded EQ-R, were attacked by an ME-210, many strikes were seen and with both engines on fire, it was seen to hit the ground. This was shot down by the rear gunner with 200 rounds.

F/Lt J. McQuiston from 415 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O D. Falconer was hit by flak, the fuselage and radios were damaged.
F/O A. Galley was hit by flak, not serious.
F/Lt A. Winmill was hit by flak, the port wing and flaps were damaged. The wing also caught fire but was put out.
F/Lt W. Borrett RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NR-253 coded 6U-L, failed to return from this operation.

W/O1 R. Sollie from 420 Squadron returned early as the ailerons were not working, they went into a spiral dive and the load was released and some control was regained. They landed with difficulty at Lindholme.
F/Lt M. Davidson and crew, flying Halifax III NR-208 coded PT-D, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage.
F/O R. Field collided with another aircraft at 17,000 feet on return. The H2-S blister was torn off, door damaged, oil coolers, stbd outer cowling damaged and stbd outer propellor was bent. They landed safely at Carnaby on 3 engines.
P/O R. Harvey RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NR-205 coded PT-L, failed to return from this operation.

F/O R. Ireland RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NA-188 coded PT-E, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt E. Watson RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NA-192 coded PT-Q, failed to return from this operation.

F/Lt E. McCutcheon RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NA-183 coded PT-M, failed to return from this operation.

F/O F. Aldworth and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III LW-194 coded QB-W, were attacked by a unidentified single engine aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
F/O G. MacLean and crew, flying Halifax III NR-228 coded QB-Q, were attacked by a JU-88 and an ME-109, there was no damage but some strikes were seen on the ME-109.

P/O W. Corbett from 425 Squadron returned early as the radios were u/s.
P/O G. Chabot and crew, flying Halifax III LW-477 coded KW-H, were attacked by an ME-410, many strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged.

F/O R. Swift from 426 Squadron did not get airborne as a tire blew out and they ground looped.
S/Ldr R. Cowans and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-740 coded OW-C, were attacked by an ME-109, many strikes were seen, and it exploded in the clouds and claimed destroyed.
F/O C. Benton and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-819 coded OW-B, were attacked twice by an FW-190, there was a few cannon rounds through the bomb bay doors. Some strikes were also seen on the FW-190.
P/O M. Fraser had the stbd outer u/s after takeoff, they went to the target and bombed on 3 engines. On return they were involved in a mid air collision. 1/3 of the port wing was cut off, there was a large hole in the fuselage and the top of the port rudder and fin were missing. They landed safely at Carnaby on return.
F/Lt R. Galbraith RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III RG-350 coded OW-K, failed to return from this operation.

F/O W. Thomas from 429 Squadron returned early as the radios were u/s.
F/O M. Ages returned early as the hydraulics were u/s.
P/O W. Fikis returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Rowe had one engine go u/s out bound. They bombed and returned safely to base on 3 engines.
F/Lt H. MacDonald and crew, flying Halifax III NR-194 coded AL-X, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, there were many strikes and 2 small explosions, followed by a large explosion when it hit the ground. It was claimed destroyed.
F/O F. Biddell RCAF–POW and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-427 coded AL-E, failed to return from this operation.

W/Cdr J. MacDonald from 432 Squadron was hit by flak, the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt E. Hayes was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O G. Peaker and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-797 coded QO-N, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.

While the Halifaxes attacked Magdeburg, 51 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the synthetic oil plant at Zeitz. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 500,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused.

F/Lt A. Googe from 428 Squadron returned early as there was a fuel leak.
F/Lt J. Craton and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-791 coded NA-A, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
F/O V. Gaskin and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-820 coded NA-M, were hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing, stbd wing and tail plane. They were also attacked by an ME-410, there was no claim or further damage, although some strikes were seen.

F/O G. Glaholt from 431 Squadron was hit by flak, the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at Carnaby on 3 engines.

F/Lt A. Kiehlbauch RCAF and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-850 coded WL-O, failed to return from this operation.

11 Halifaxes from 424, 427, 429, and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at between 11,000 and 12,000 feet, sowing 44@1500 lb mines.

All crews returned safely to base.