November 4/5, 1944


    173 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 41 Lancasters from 419, 428, and 431 squadrons on an attack at Bochum. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 18,000 feet, releasing 1,841,000 lbs of high explosives and 324,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, severe damaged was caused to this city and many important industries were damaged.

    F/Lt H. Bracken from 408 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/O D. Brown was hit by flak, not serious.
    P/O L. Case and crew, flying Halifax III NP-714 coded EQ-V, were attacked by an unidentified single engine enemy aircraft, many strikes were seen, it caught fire and dove to the ground and exploded, it was claimed destroyed.
    F/O H. Sokoloff, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-750 coded EQ-F, crash landed in France on return. 

      F/Sgt W. Richardson, RAF
      F/O J. Sargent, RCAF
      F/Sgt A. Stables, RCAF
      W/O2 J. Fraser, RCAF
      F/Sgt L. Swindells, RCAF
      F/Sgt H. Hardy, RCAF--POW
    The crew was safe except the rear gunner, F/Sgt. H. Hardy, RCAF, who bailed out over Dusseldorf and ended the war as a POW.

    F/O L. Blaney and crew from 419 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-721 coded VR-E, were attacked by an ME-109 and an ME-110 over the target. There were cannon holes in the stbd fin, elevator, flap, wing, and rear turret. F/Sgt D. Lanctot RCAF, the rear gunner was also hit in the foot. Strikes were seen on both fighters and they were claimed damaged. The crew landed safely at Woodbridge on return.

    F/O J. Bonner from 420 squadron returned early as they were unable to raise the under carriage of flaps.
    P/O L. Simonson returned early as the Halifax wouldn’t climb.
    F/O J. Cox landed at Wombleton due to a fuel shortage.
    P/O R. MacMillan landed at Chedburgh due to a fuel shortage.

    F/O H. Cowan and crew from 424 Squadron, flying Halifax III NR-146 coded QB-N, were attacked by an ME-109, there was no claim or damage. They returned without bombing as they were coned by search lights and fired upon by flak.
    F/O C. Walker was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/O D. Chance and crew, flying Halifax III NP-945 coded QB-D, were attacked by a JU-88, there was no claim or damage, although some strikes were seen.
    F/O D. McCullough had a near miss with another Halifax over the target.
    F/Lt. L. Loving, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-896 coded QB-Q,  failed to return from this operation. 

      P/O B. McGarrity, RAF
      F/O A. Chapman, RCAF
      P/O G. Running, RCAF
      P/O A. Flatt, RCAF
      P/O W. Davidson, RAF
      P/O J. Durkin, RCAF
    All were lost without a trace.

    F/O J. MacHale from 425 Squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/O W. Forman and crew, flying Halifax III NA-634 coded KW-X, fired on an FW-190 that was attacking another Halifax, strikes were seen and it was claimed damaged as it broke away smoking.
    F/O J. Desmarais RCAF and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-621 coded KW-O, was hit by a load of incendiaries over the target. There were holes in the wings, ailerons, tail, flaps and elevators. One engine caught fire due to the fuel and oil lines being cut. They returned safely to base on 3 engines but their Halifax was written off due to severe damage.
    F/O D. Smith, RCAF--POW and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-831 coded KW-Z, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. W. Clowes, RAF
      F/O L. Jamieson, RCAF--POW
      F/O E. Knorr, RCAF--POW
      Sgt. R. Ford, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt. A. Limacher, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt. R. Gale, RCAF--POW
    One crewmember was killed and 6 were POWs.

    F/O W. Kent and crew from 426 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-768 coded OW-Q, were attacked by a unidentified jet aircraft and an ME-109, some strikes were seen to hit the jet aircraft and strikes were also seen on the ME-109. 
    F/O H. Elder, RCAF--POW and crew, flying Halifax VII  NP-800, coded OW-S failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. R. Newberry, RAF
      F/O O. Cook, RCAF--Evd
      F/O J. Clements, RCAF
      F/O L. Hopper, RCAF
      F/Sgt. H. Mosley, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt. C. Pottage, RCAF--Evd
    3 of this crew were killed, 2 POWs, and 2 evaded captureafter being shot down by a Nightfighter.

    F/O R. Jones RCAF--POW and crew, flying Halifax VII  NP-775 coded OW-K, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. R Hollinrake, RAF--POW
      F/Sgt. A. Goheen, RCAF--POW
      F/O R. Bick, RCAF--POW
      F/O D. Younger, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt E. Hyde, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt N. Jennings, RCAF--POW
    All the crew were POWs.

    F/O N. Roberts from 427 squadron landed at Woodbridge due to a fuel shortage.

    F/O H. Walker and crew from 428 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-763 coded NA-S, were attacked by an ME-163, many strikes were seen, it caught fire and dove straight to the ground and exploded. It was claimed destroyed.
    F/O G. Pauli, RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X  KB-742 coded NA-M, overshot the landing on return and crashed. 

      Sgt H. Willmore RAF
      F/O R. Taylor RCAF
      F/O N. Maxer RCAF
      W/O2 A. Krivda RCAF
      Sgt W. Harper RCAF
      Sgt A. Scott RCAF
    The crew was uninjured.

    F/O F. Biddell from 429 squadron was hit by flak, holes in the fuel tank.
    F/O M. Lanin was hit by flak, the tail was damaged. They landed at Woodbridge.
    F/O C. Pope and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-318 coded AL-F, fired at an unidentified single engine aircraft attacking another bomber, there was no claim.
    F/O R. James and P/O G. Hay landed at Dalton on return.

    F/O G. Kercher and crew from 431 Squadron, flying Lancaster X KB-822 coded SE-W, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O J. Duggan landed at Coningsby on return.
    F/O H. Williamson and W/O1 D. Murray landed at Middleton St. George on return.

    F/O C. Hemming and crew from 432 Squadron, flying Halifax VII NP-705 coded QO-Y, were attacked by an unidentified twin engine enemy aircraft, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Lt. J. Sales landed at Dalton due to a fuel shortage.
    F/O J. Gault, RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-708 coded QO-E, was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage. and P/O W. Border, RAF the Flt/engineer, was killed. They landed at Woodbridge on return.

    F/O A. Heathcote from 433 squadron didn’t bomb as the electrical system was u/s due to a flak hit. They landed at Woodbridge on return.
    F/O R. Mountford, RCAF--POW, and crew, flying Halifax III  NP-992 coded BM-F,  failed to return from this operation. 

      St. J. Bell, RAF--POW
      F/O R. Madill, RCAF--POW
      F/O H. Langlands, RCAF--POW
      W/O1 I. Jervis, RCAF--POW
      F/Sgt. J. Christie, RCAF--POW
      W/O1 E. Munro, RCAF--POW
    All were POWs.

    P/O R. Cavanaugh from 434 squadron returned to base as they were too late getting away.
    F/Lt D. Boyle and crew, flying Halifax III NR-134 coded WL-Z, were attacked by a JU-188, strikes were seen on both wings and fuselage, it was claimed damaged.
    F/O P. Burden and crew, flying Halifax III MZ-878 coded WL-E, were attacked by an ME-109 and an ME-110. There was no claim but some strikes were seen. They landed safely at Middleton St. George on return.
    F/O V. Barr and crew, flying Halifax III NR-145 coded WL-L, were attacked by an FW-190, there was no claim or damage.
    F/O J. Wagman and crew, flying Halifax III NR-124 coded WL-X, were attacked by an unidentified enemy aircraft just after it had shot down a bomber, there was no claim or damage.
    F/Lt G. Rothenbush, F/O R. Henry, P/O R. Telford and F/O J. Wagman landed at Middleton St. George on return.