September 12, 1944



    While some of the group was attacking Dortmund, 122 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 431, 432, and 434 Squadrons attacked the synthetic oil plant at Wanne Eickel. The attack was carried out from 16,000 to 19,000 feet with the crew releasing 960,000 lbs of ordinance. No observations were made due to a smoke screen over the target. A great number of aircraft were damaged by flak.

    F/O D. Snider, F/O J. Faulder, P/O E. Patzer, F/O R. Johnson, F/O W. Shields, F/Lt F. Smart, P/O G. Harpwood, F/O V. Gilson, and F/O D. Brown of 408 Squadron were all hit by flak. None were seriously damaged and all returned safely to base.
    P/O D. Kennedy was hit by flak. Stbd outer caught fire but was extinguished. They landed safely at Methwold on 3 engines.

    P/O C. Chartier of 415 Squadron was hit by flak. The stbd wing, bomb doors, port outer nacelle, and nose were damaged.
    F/O W. Sherman was hit by flak. The port wing was damaged.
    F/Lt H. Barnes was hit by flak. There were holes in the forward fuselage. 

    F/O A. Caine of 420 Squadron was hit by flak, 2 miles short of the aiming point. Sgt W. Cruikshank RCAF, the rear gunner was injured. They crew did not bomb due to evasive action, and returned safely to base without further injuries.

    P/O J. Marcotte of 425 Squadron was hit by flak. F/Sgt J. Dulude RCAF, the wireless operator, and F/Sgt A. Tremblay RCAF, rear gunner, were injured. They landed safely at Woodbridge on return.
    F/O N. Streight, F/O J. Gourdeau, F/O H. Gregson, P/O C. Dionne, and F/O P. Hache were hit by flak. None were hit seriously and all returned safely to base.

    P/O W. Taylor, F/O P. Labelle, and F/O J. Lowe of 426 Squadron were hit by flak. there was no serious damage and all returned safely to base.
    F/O W. Kent had 2 engines go u/s on return. They landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines.
    F/O P. Buck RCAF and crew, flying Halifax VII NP-741 coded OW-K, failed to return from this operation.

      Sgt H. Rose RAF–POW
      F/O R. Walter RCAF–POW
      F/O W. Sloan RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt P. Tynan RAF–POW
      F/Sgt K. Dugdale RCAF–POW
      F/Sgt J. De Luca RCAF–POW
    They were hit by flak. All the crew were able to bail out but F/O P. Buck died of his injuries the following day.

    P/O S. Sorenson of 431 Squadron returned early. The stbd outer was u/s, they landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O G. Quinlan was hit by flak. Sgt Glue RAF, the Flt engineer was hit in the head but didn’t sustain serious injuries. They landed safely at base.
    F/O R. Haw was hit by flak, F/O J. Abell RCAF, the navigator, was slightly injured.

    F/O J. Mills of 432 Squadron was hit by flak. There were holes were put in the port wing and instrument panel.
    F/O A. Porter was hit by flak. There were holes were put in the port wing, stbd wing, and stbd inner nacelle.
    F/O J. Gault was hit by flak. There were holes were put in the port wing tip. 

    F/O J. Wagman of 434 Squadron returned early, they were unable to retract the landing gear.
    F/O G. Eccelstone was hit by flak. Damage was to the stbd wing and bomb bay
    P/O M. Isenberg was hit by flak tail was damaged.
    F/O A. Spence was hit by flak. Both port engines were damaged, port inner feathered and fuselage holed. The mid under gunner, Sgt R. McLean RCAF was injured, but not seriously. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.