100 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail, canal facilities, and fuel dump at Dorsten. The crews were over the target at between 15,500 and 18,000 feet, releasing 781,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, this was successfully done.
F/O N. Toderan from 420 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Evans and P/O G. Turcotte from 425 Squadron were hit by flak, not serious.
P/O H. Kearl from 432 Squadron was hit by flak and hour and one half
from the target, the stbd inner was u/s and there were holes in the fuselage,
tail and stbd wing. They bombed from 14,000 feet and returned safely to
base on 3 engines.
While the Halifaxes went to Dorsten, 80 Lancasters from 419, 424, 427, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the rail yards at Hildesheim. The crews were over the target at between 14,000 and 15,000 feet, releasing 260,000 lbs of high explosives and 524,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, the rail yards and most of the town was severely damaged.
F/O B. Nichols and F/O R. Chambers from 419 Squadron were hit by flak,
not serious.
All crews from 424 Squadron reported on the exceptional fighter escort to and from the target.
F/O R. Wall from 427 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious. F/O D. Walsh, F/O D. Brown and F/O E. Lewis from 428 Squadron were hit
by flak, not serious.
F/O W. Spence RCAF–POW F/O C. Goodier RCAF–POW P/O J. MacKenzie RCAF F/O D. Frame RCAF F/Sgt J. Bellamy RCAF–POW
F/Lt J. Duggan RCAF and crew from 431 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-808 coded SE-Y, failed to return from this operation.
Sgt J. Bentley RAF F/O G. Zuback RCAF F/O G. McLean RCAF F/O J. Dorrell RCAF F/Sgt C. Root RCAF P/O J. Ketchen RCAF
F/O H. Payne RCAF and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-832 coded WL-F, swung on takeoff due to a crosswind and the undercarriage collapsed. It skidded across the grass, damaging Lancaster X KB-811 coded SE-T and fire broke out.
F/O E. Bishop RCAF F/O R. Pritchard RCAF W/O2 J. Johnson RCAF F/Sgt G. Hall RCAF F/Sgt W. Williams RCAF
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