Daily Operations

October 14/15, 1944

200 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 39 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,968,000 lbs of high explosives and 187,000 lbs of incendiaries. This was the 2nd installment for Duisberg in less than 24 hours. The crews were over this target in the early morning. 9,000 tons of ordinance had fallen on Duisberg in less than 48 hours according to reports there was severe damage through out the city.

P/O G. Harpwood from 408 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Frankling returned early as one engine had a runaway propellor and carburetor ice.
P/O R. Stewart returned without bombing as the load hung up.

F/O L. Deryckere from 415 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O J. Weir landed at Manston on return.
F/O J. Tims was chased by enemy fighters all the way back to the English coast.
F/O D.Stewart had a 1000 lb bomb fall through the bomb doors. There was a 7x2 foot hole in the bomb doors. They landed safely at Woodbridge on return.
F/O S. McFadden had a 1000 lb bomb fall through the bomb doors.
F/O H. Knobovitch had the port inner go u/s outbound. They bombed from a lower altitude. On return there was a fire near the radios that was put out by the crew.
Sgt. C. Krocker was attacked by an enemy aircraft, there was no claim. On approach, they crash landed short of the runway.

P/O R. Mansfield from 419 squadron returned early as the lancaster wouldn’t climb.
F/O F. How returned early with a sick gunner.
W/O2 L. McDonald landed at Langham on return.

F/O J. Cox from 420 squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt. J. S. Sefton had the port outer u/s over the target. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. Haslop returned early. They were in a mid-air collision. The stbd fin and rudder were torn off. They landed safely at Woodbridge.

F/O G.Hawthorn from 424 squadron returned early as they were burning too much fuel.

F/O C. Pidcock, RCAF, and crew from 425 squadron failed to return from this operation. They crashed behind allied lines.

P/O R. Fuller from 426 squadron returned early as the pilot’s escape hatch blew off.
P/O C. McKinstry landed at Woodbridge due to a fuel shortage.

F/O W. Britton from 427 squadron returned early as the stbd outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O H. Egli landed at Bircham Newton on return.

F/O R. Dench from 428 squadron was hit by flak, holes in stbd wing.
P/O H. Humber was attacked by an FW-190. There was no claim.
F/Sgt. L. Read landed away due to a fuel shortage.

P/O W. Fikis from 429 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
F/O J. Lasek landed at Woodbridge due to a fuel shortage.

W/Cdr. J. MacDonald from 432 squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft. It was claimed damaged.

F/Sgt. R. Saunders from 433 squadron returned early due to the stbd outer going u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/O G. O’Grady landed at Downham Market due to a fuel shortage.

F/O J. Wagman from 434 squadron returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
F/Lt. D. Wood, RCAF, had the stbd outer catch fire after takeoff.

F/Lt. W. Dumas and F/O P. Burden landed at Woodbridge on return.

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