Daily Operations

November 1/2, 1944

202 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 47 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 on an attack at Oberhausen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,979,000 lbs of high explosives and 379,000 lbs of incendiaries. The target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered.

P/O E. Patzer from 408 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O L. Case and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-714 coded EQ-V, were attacked by 2 ME-210s. Many strikes were seen on the first attacker and the port engine burst into flames and the ME-210 dove down through the clouds. The second attack took place as the ME-210 was attacking a Lancaster, both gunners opened fire, many strikes were seen and it burst into flames and dove through the clouds. They were both claimed destroyed.

P/O T. Donnelly from 415 squadron had the stbd outer go u/s on return. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 3 engines.
F/O R. Gingrich had the port rudder and elevator damaged when the escape hatch blew off.

F/Lt A. Warner and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-744 coded NA-J, borrowed from 428 Squadron were attacked by an ME-410. There was no claim or damage.
F/Lt J. Bell had an engine go u/s on return they landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O R. Cox RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-767 coded VR-U, was attacked by an FW-190, the fuselage and tail severely damaged. A short time later they were hit by flak with more damage. They were attacked again by an FW-190. The stbd wing, intercom, hydraulics, instruments, and port inner were damaged. There was a fire in the stbd wing and both tires were flat. The stbd inner quit and twice the Lancaster went into a spiral dive only to be pulled out at 1,500 feet. The crew headed for Belgium where the port inner was restarted and they again turned for home. They landed safely at Manston. It was only then that the rear gunner, navigator, and wireless operator were known to be injured during the attack or while putting out the fire. F/O S. Lindsay RCAF, the navigator, F/O L. Sitlington RCAF, the wireless operator, and F/Sgt R. Toane RCAF, the rear gunner, were hospitalized with their injuries and were also decorated for their actions on this operation, along with the pilot F/O Cox. This Lancaster was totally riddled with holes and never flew again.

F/O F. Beairsto and crew from 420 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-540 coded PT-H, were attacked by a JU-88,there was no claim or damage.
F/O W. Shotton was hit by flak, there were holes in both wings.
F/Lt F. McCarthy lost a bomb door on return.
F/O E. Johnson had the port outer go u/s on return. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt J. S. Sefton and crew, flying Halifax III LL-605 coded PT-K, were attacked by an ME-109, many strikes were seen, the engine caught fire and it dove to the ground, it was claimed destroyed.
F/O O. Austenson had a hydraulics go u/s on return as the bomb doors fell open.

F/O R.Burns from 424 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
P/O A Jacobs, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-376 coded QB-K, failed to return from this operation.

F/O T. MacKinnon from 425 Squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O R. Lafreniere was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O A. Hutcheon landed at Woodbridge due to the brakes being u/s.
F/O D. Smith landed at Carnaby due to the brakes being u/s.
F/O P. Legault and crew, flying Halifax III NA-634 coded KW-X, were attacked by an ME-110, strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged. They were also damaged, the port flap was shot off and the fuselage was riddled with exploding shrapnel.
P/O G. Chabot was hit by flak, there was holes in the fuselage bomb doors and elevator. They landed at Horsham St. Faith due to a fuel shortage.
F/Lt M. Dugas, RCAF--POW and crew, flying Halifax III LW-379 coded KW-D, failed to return from this operation.

P/O T. Layman from 426 squadron returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage.
F/Lt. A. Jones was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O W. Anderson, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-709 coded OW-A, failed to return from this operation.

P/O R. Goreham, RCAF--POW and crew flying Halifax VII NP-771 coded OW-J failed to return from this operation.

F/O G. Tegerdine and crew from 427 Squadron, flying Halifax III were attacked by 2 Jet propelled aircraft, many strikes were seen on both and they both burst into flames, one was claimed damaged and the other, probably destroyed..
F/Lt E. Sherlock was attacked by a Jet propelled aircraft. Many strikes were seen and it burst into flames, diving vertically through the clouds, it was claimed probably destroyed.

F/Lt. G. Bennett from 429 squadron had the port inner go u/s over the target. They returned safely on 3 engines.
F/O C. Gray and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-474 coded AL-B, were attacked head on by an FW-190. F/O R. Herbert, the bomb aimer, shot it down. Pretty amazing feat with a single vickers gun!!!
F/O D. Magee was hit by flak. There was severe damage to the stbd outer engine, wings, fins, rudders and fuselage. The Flt/Engineer, Sgt. M. Bareham, was fatally wounded despite the crews efforts to care for him. On landing at Woodbridge, the Halifax swung and the under carriage collapsed damaging it further. The crew escaped further injuries.

F/O D. Connor, RCAF, and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-817 coded SE-P, from 431 squadron failed to return from this operation.

F/O D. McKinnon from 432 squadron returned early as the intercom was u/s.

W/Cdr F. Sharp from 433 squadron was attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage.

W/O1 C. Ferris RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III NR-144 coded WL-S from 434 squadron, was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. The wireless operator, W/O1 S. Martin, was fatally injured. The bomb aimer, navigator and Flt/Engineer were also injured.
F/O J. Badgley, RCAF, and crew flying Halifax III NR-114 coded WL-U,failed to return from this operation.