96 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 squadrons were ordered to attack the oil plants at Wanne-Eickel. The crews were over the target at between 16,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 1,052,000 lbs of high explosives. The oil refinery and a chemical plant were seriously damaged. More than 50% of these aircraft were damaged by flak over this target.
15 crews from 408 Squadron departed
base at between ?? hours, they were over the target at between ??
hours, returning to base at between ?? hours.
F/O E. Mowatt and crew flying Halifax VII NP-770 coded EQ-G were
hit by flak over the target, it was not serious.
S/Ldr G. Tambling and crew flying Halifax VII NP-773 coded EQ-M
were hit by flak over the target, it was not serious.
F/O R. Wallis and crew flying Halifax VII NP-747 coded EQ-N were
hit by flak over the target, it was not serious.
P/O E. Patzer and crew flying Halifax VII NP-777 coded EQ-S were
hit by flak over the target, there were holes in the fuselage.
F/Lt J. Brown and crew flying Halifax VII NP-718 coded EQ-Z were
hit by flak over the target, it was not serious.
15 crews from 415 Squadron departed
base at between 07:43 and 07:59 hours, they were over the target at
between 10:14 and 10:22 hours, returning to base at between 11:52 and
13:05 hours.
F/O J. Britt and crew flying Halifax III MZ-947 coded 6U-C
were hit by flak over the target area, there were holes in wings, stbd
inner, and fuselage.
F/Lt J. Northrup and crew flying Halifax III NA-582 coded 6U-D
were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious.
F/O H. Knobovitch and crew flying Halifax III MZ-603 coded
6U-E were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious.
P/O T. Donnelly and crew flying Halifax III NA-583 coded
6U-F were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious.
F/Lt J. McAllister RCAF and crew flying Halifax III NP-935 coded
6U-I were hit by flak outbound. The fuselage was damaged and one
engine was u/s and F/O C. Prawdzik RCAF,
the navigator, was severely injured and taken to the rest position and
attended to. The crew navigated by following the stream. The bomb aimer
carried out a Gee homing on Woodbridge due to low clouds and
visibility. On a 3 engine landing the stbd tire blew causing more
damage and injuring the rear gunner.
Sgt C. Taylor RAF Flt/engineer
F/O C. Prawdzik RCAF Navigator
Sgt E. Haynes RCAF
Bomb aimer
F/Sgt J. Rhodes RCAF Wireless operator
F/Sgt G. Smith RCAF Mid upper gunner
F/O A. Smith RCAF Rrear gunner
This Halifax was written off due to the battle damage. Sadly the
navigator, F/O Prawdzik, later died of his injuries.
F/O D. McTaggart and crew flying
Halifax III MZ-654 coded 6U-L were hit by flak over the
target, holes in fuselage and nose. They landed at Woodbridge on return.
F/O D. McNeill and crew flying Halifax III MZ-946 coded
6U-O were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious.
F/O B. Roberts and crew flying Halifax III NA-612 coded
6U-P were hit by flak, there were holes in port wing.
F/O R. Gingrich and crew flying Halifax III NA-607 coded 6U-R
were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious.
F/O D. Stewart RCAF and crew flying Halifax III MZ-690 coded
6U-X were hit by flak, there were holes in fuselage and starboard
wing. P/O M. Washook, the mid-under gunner was seriously injured in the
back. They landed at West Raynham and then Witchford to drop off the
injured gunner.
Sgt A. Munford RAF Flt/engineer
F/O J. Huddert RCAF Navigator
P/O P. Somers RCAF Bomb aimer
F/Sgt A. Greaves RCAF Wireless operator
P/O M. Washook RCAF Mid under gunner
Sgt R. Fleming RCAF
Mid upper gunner
Sgt W. McVean RCAF Rear gunner
Sadly P/O Washook died of his injuries.
15 crews from 420 Squadron departed
base at between ?? hours, they were over the target at between??,
returning to base at between ?? hours.
F/O A. Caine and crew flying Halifax III LW-380 coded PT-B were hit by
flak, it was not serious.
F/Lt J. S. Sefton and crew flying Halifax III MZ-587 coded PT-C
were hit by flak, it was not serious.
F/Lt G. Jones and crew flying Halifax III NA-632 coded PT-E were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
F/O W. MacDonald and crew flying Halifax III MZ-540 coded PT-H
were hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious. They landed at
Framlingham on return.
F/O G. Haslop and crew flying Halifax III NA-579 coded PT-J were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
W/Cdr G. McKenna and crew flying Halifax III LL-605 coded PT-K
were hit by flak, it was not serious.
F/O E. McCutcheon and crew flying Halifax III MZ-595 coded PT-M
were hit by flak over the target area, it was not serious. They landed
at Thorpe Abbotts on return.
F/O C. McKenzie and crew flying Halifax III LL-589 coded
PT-Q had the port inner go u/s outbound. The crew decided to
attack Cleve. They were hit by flak the fuselage was damaged, fuel
tanks leaking and Sgt A. Cooper RCAF, the mid-under gunner suffered a
broken leg. They returned to Volkel in Holland to drop off the injured
gunner for medical attention, refueled and returned safely to base.
F/O J. Cox and crew flying Halifax III LL-574 coded PT-R were hit
by flak over the target, the port inner engine went u/s over the
target. They returned safely on 3 engines.
11 crews from 425 Squadron departed
base at between 07:26 and 07:46 hours, they were over the target at
between 10:15 and 10:22 hours, returning to base at between 12:37 and
13:19 hours.
F/O G. Beaulieu and crew flying Halifax III LW-379 coded KW-D
were hit by flak in the target area, there were small holes in the
fuselage.
F/O C. Dionne and crew flying Halifax III MZ-954 coded KW-M were hit by
flak over the target area at 10:20 hours while flying at 19,000 feet,
there were holes in the elevators.
F/O J. Galipeau and crew flying Halifax III MZ-674 coded KW-N were hit
by flak over the target at 10:19 hours while flying at 17,500 feet,
there were holes in the fuselage.
F/O T. MacKinnon and crew flying Halifax III LL-591 coded
KW-S were hit by flak over the target at 10:29 hours while flying
at 17,500 feet, this made the aircraft difficult to turn.
F/O G. Lareau and crew flying Halifax III LL-582 coded KW-W were
hit by flak over the target, it was not serious.
12 crews from 426 Squadron departed
base at between ??, they were over the target at between ??, returning
to base at between ??.
F/O M. Fraser and crew flying Halifax VII LW-203 coded OW-F were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
P/O R. Jones and crew flying Halifax VII NP-775 coded OW-K were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
P/O A. McKay and crew flying Halifax VII NP-685 coded OW-L were
hit by flak, holes in the fuselage. The bomb aimer, F/O I. Garries
RCAF, suffered injuries to his hand, head, and leg.
F/O S. Simmons and crew flying Halifax VII LW-200 coded OW-N were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
P/O D. Irwin and crew flying Halifax VII NP-684 coded OW-O were hit by
flak, it was not serious.
F/O T. Layman and crew flying Halifax VII NP-686 coded OW-T were
hit by flak, it was not serious.
14 crews from 427 Squadron departed
base at between 07:24 and 07:53 hours, they were over the target at
between 10:16 and 10:22 hours, returning to base at between 12:36 and
13:11 hours.
F/O F. Brownell and crew flying Halifax III LW-133 coded
ZL-C were hit by flak in the target area, there were holes in
wings, fuselage and tail.
F/Lt R. Garvin and crew flying Halifax III MZ-452 coded
ZL-E returned early at 12:24 hours due to severe icing and not
being able to climb above 14,000 feet.
F/Lt A. Sherlock and crew flying Halifax III MZ-867 coded
ZL-G were hit by flak in the target area, the stbd inner engine
was damaged.
F/Lt G. Slocombe and crew flying Halifax III MZ-423 coded
ZL-N were hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O H. Ruffell and crew flying Halifax III MZ-819 coded
ZL-S were hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O J. Mulholland and crew flying Halifax III LV-996 coded
ZL-U were hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O F. Millard and crew flying Halifax III MZ-355 coded ZL-W
returned early at 09:55 hours due to the stbd outer going u/s. They
landed safely at base on 3 engines.
14 crews from 429 Squadron departed
base at between 07:30 and 07:55 hours, they were over the target at
between 10:17 and 10:21 hours, returning to base at between 12:28 and
13:08 hours.
F/O J. Lakeman and crew flying Halifax III NP-952 coded AL-B were
hit by flak at 10:20 hours over the target area, it was not serious.
F/O J. Lasek and crew flying Halifax III MZ-377 coded AL-D were
hit by flak at 10:16 hours on the bombing run, it was not serious.
F/O A.M. MacDonald and crew flying Halifax III MZ-318 coded AL-F had
part of the leading edge of the wing blow off in flight. This made
flying difficult and hard to make it up to the bombing height.
F/O J. Keslick and crew flying Halifax III MZ-357 coded AL-N were
hit by flak at 10:16 hours over the target area, it was not serious.
P/O W. Fikis and crew flying Halifax III LV-830 coded AL-Q returned
early at 10:24 hours from 53:05N-00:25W as the stbd outer was u/s. They
jettisoned part of the load, safe and landed safely at base on 3
engines.
F/O J. Barlow and crew flying Halifax III MZ-285 coded AL-U were
hit by flak at 10:22 hours over the target area, it was not serious.
F/O R. Mitchell and crew flying Halifax III LW-139 coded AL-X were hit
by flak at 10:22 hours over the target area, it was not serious.
F/Lt H. Brawn and crew flying Halifax III MZ-424 coded AL-Z were
hit by flak at 10:17 hours over the target area while flying at 19,500
feet, it was not serious.
15 crews from 432 Squadron departed
base at between 07:26 and 07:42 hours, they were over the target at
between 10:16 and 10:23 hours, returning to base at between 12:24 and
12:48 hours.
F/O G. Stunden and crew flying Halifax VII NP-697 coded QO-F were hit
by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
P/O H. Britton RCAF and crew flying
Halifax VII NP-738 coded QO-J was hit by flak in the target area
while flying at 19,000 feet. Both outer engines were u/s, fuel tanks
holed, intercom u/s and killing F/O F. Todd, the bomb aimer. Sgt D.
Knight RAF, the flt/engineer was also seriously injured, but insisted
on carrying out his duties. As they were approaching Woodbridge on the
two inner engines, both outers were feathered, control was lost and
they crashed at 11:51 hours, a half mile short of the runway in some
trees.
F/Lt D. Speller RCAF 2nd pilot
Sgt D. Knight RAF Flt/engineer
Sgt D. Hyatt RCAF Navigator
F/O F. Todd RCAF Bomb aimer
F/Lt S. Walker RCAF
Wireless operator
F/Sgt W. Hoffman RCAF Mid upper gunner
F/Sgt R. Dickinson RCAF Rear gunner
P/O H. Britton and Sgt D. Knight, the flt/engineer were injured.
F/O M. Krakowsky and crew flying
Halifax VII NP-699 coded QO-O were hit by flak over the
target area while flying at 18,500 feet, the stbd outer engine , wings,
fuel tanks, aileron and fuselage holed.
F/O C. Hemming and crew flying Halifax VII NP-693 coded
QO-Q were hit by flak over the target area while flying at 18,000
feet. The stbd outer was u/s, there were holes in the wings, tail and
fuselage. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Barron and crew flying Halifax VII NP-807 coded QO-P were
hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O L. McGuire and crew flying Halifax VII NP-694 coded QO-R were
hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O A. Bews and crew flying Halifax VII NP-812 coded QO-T were
hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
F/O S. Dean and crew flying Halifax VII NP-721 coded QO-X were
hit by flak in the target area, it was not serious.
