October 28, 1944


    195 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 36 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack on Cologne. The crews were over the target at between 18,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 1,570,000 lbs of high explosive and 285,000 lbs of incendiaries.

    P/O W. Tunis of 408 squadron was hit by flak. There were many holes through out the fuselage. The crew returned safely to base without injuries.
    S/Ldr. D. Pettit had his hydraulics go u/s on return. The bomb doors would not close, crew landed safely at East Moor.
    F/O R. Bowhay was hit by flak, was not serious.
    F/O D. Kennedy was hit by flak. The stbd outer caught fire, also holes in stbd fuel tank. They landed safely at base.
    P/O L. Case landed at Tholthorpe on return due to poor weather.
    F/O H. Sokoloff landed at Polebrook on return due to poor weather.
    F/O G. Frankling seen flares on the water on return. They took a reading on their position and radioed for air rescue. A rescue boat was dispatched and a crew from 10 squadron was picked up. This crew landed safely at Woodbridge on return due to poor weather.

    F/Lt. C. Chartier of 415 squadron was hit by flak, was not serious.
    F/Lt. T. Mears was hit by flak. Holes in bomb doors, port wing, tail plane and fin. Crew landed safely at base.
    F/Lt. T. Chapman had the stbd inner over speed on return. Crew landed safely at Manston.

    F/O A. Weston of 419 squadron was hit by flak. There were holes in the wings and bomb doors, they landed safely at base.
    F/O W. Osborn had the escape hatch blow off in flight, was a little drafty on return.
    F/O N. Vatne had a tire blow on takeoff. Crew completed the operation and landed at Woodbridge on return.
    F/Lt A. Nelligan RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-712 coded VR-L, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. W. Hawkings, RAF
      F/O J. Fichtner, RCAF
      F/O J. Nafziger, RCAF
      F/Sgt. W. Herman, RCAF
      Sgt. E. Smith, RCAF
      Sgt. B. Greenhalgh, RCAF
    All were killed.

    F/Lt. F. McCarthy from 420 squadron was hit by flak. There were holes in the stbd wing, crew landed safely at base.
    F/O J. Bonner was hit by flak. The mid-upper gunner, Sgt D. Cochrane RCAF, was seriously wounded. They landed safely at Woodbridge to tend to the injured gunner.

    F/O H. Cowan from 424 Squadron returned early as both stbd engines were u/s. They landed safely at base on 2 engines.
    F/O G. MacLean was hit by flak. Holes in fuselage and the hydraulics were u/s. They landed safely at base.
    F/O L. Loving was hit by flak. Holes in nose of aircraft. They returned safely to base.
    F/O J. King was hit by flak. Stbd outer was u/s over the target, also holes in stbd wing, fuselage and stbd tail plane. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    W/Cdr. C. Marshall was hit by flak. Holes in port wing, oil tank and aileron. They landed safely at Woodbridge.
    F/O E. Lefevre had the stbd outer go u/s outbound. They bombed from 10,000 feet and returned safely on 3 engines.

    P/O A. Martel from 425 squadron had the port inner go u/s outbound. They bombed from a lower altitude and returned safely on 3 engines.
    F/O G. Perrier landed at binbrook on return due to a fuel shortage.

    P/O G. Hamilton of 426 Squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s.
    F/Lt. C. Boddington was hit by flak, not serious.

    F/O G. Tergerdine of 427 Squadron returned early. Stbd inner was u/s, they landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O W. Wilson and F/O G. Plyley were hit by flak, not serious.

    F/Lt. G. Quinn of 428 Squadron returned early. Oxygen system was u/s.
    F/O K. Roulston was hit by flak, holes in port wing and stbd aileron.
    F/O W. Tynan was hit by flak, holes in stbd inner nacelle.

    P/O W. Fikis of 429 Squadron was hit by flak. The wireless operator was killed, rudder controls damaged, fuselage holed and stbd tire was flat. They landed safely at Woodbridge.
    F/O D. Bell was hit by flak. Port fuselage, aileron was damaged. Flt/engineer was injured, crew landed safely at Manston.
    P/O B. Drewery, F/O A. MacDonald and P/O G. Hay landed at Carnaby due to a fuel shortage.

    F/O F. Baxter of 432 Squadron landed at Elvington on return.

    F/O W. Watson from 433 squadron was hit by flak. Mid-upper turret hit. 
    F/O R. Mountford was hit by failing incendiaries. Ailerons and nose damaged. They landed safely at Woodbridge.

    Sgt F. Hart RCAF and crew from 434 Squadron, flying Halifax III MZ-420 coded WL-F, had the stbd outer catch fire on return. Crew were not able to put the fire out and they were forced to bail out. 

      P/O L Garding, RCAF
      F/O H. Hunter, RCAF
      F/O R. Birch, RCAF
      Sgt. J. Banville, RCAF
      P/O D. Noble, RCAF
      P/O W. Newman, RCAF
    The Halifax crashed near Liston.

    Photo:  432 Squadron over Cologne. Graciously supplied by Ian--57 Rescue