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.