MN379

PD492

MN547

MN345

MN969

MN352

MN989

F/O Johns R.A.

F/O MacDonald R.N.

F/O Bernhart P.N.

F/O Laurence R.H.

F/O Laycock M.P.

F/O Smith R.V.

F/O Rassenti N.H.

F/O Fraser J.G.

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10:20

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This Ramrod was carried out in two sections of four aircraft each and two railway lines were attacked with 500 lb. bombs (24 sec. delay). Red Section, led by F/O Johns, carried out an unsuccessful attack against the railway near Holten (C.0709). Eight near misses were scored but no damage done to the track. F/O Johns then led the section on a short armed recce during which a train at Deventer was attacked and the engine damaged. On the return trip, Hun fighters were reported in the Nijmegen area but none were sighted. 

Blue Section, under F/O Laycock, successfully carried out a low-level attack against the railway line at Raalte. The line was cut by two craters and the remainder scored close misses. On the trip home, one MET was attacked on the highway at Doesburg and burst into flame. A small amount of light flak was encountered occasionally by both red and Blue Sections, but all aircraft returned to base undamaged.

MP145

MN869

MN665

MP151

MN352

MN379

MN870

F/L Burton W.D.

F/O Carr J.

F/O Hogg J.E.

P/O McBride A.C.

F/O Johns R.A.

F/O Bernhart P.N.

F/O Stitt J.M.

F/O Burgess C.L.

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14:00

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Details of Sortie or Flight

This was another show in which eight aircraft carrying 500 lb. bombs (11 sec delay) took-off to attack enemy railway lines at two places. red Section, F/L Burton leading, successfully low-levelled the track at Harde (map ref. Z.7425) and cut the line in two places. A short armed recce was carried out in the area but no movement see.

Blue Section was led to the target at Holten (map ref. C.0709) by F/O Johns and low-level attacks from 25 to 30 degree dives were carried out against the railway there.  Four bombs struck the line but all skipped away and exploded harmlessly some distance away. Two bombs bracketed the track and tore chunks out of the embankment, but did not cut the line. The remaining two scored near misses only.

Blue Section carried out an armed recce and damaged a locomotive on the railway line between Hengale and Oldenzaal. This attack was carried over the airport at Twente on which four FW-190's were seen dispersed. Some light flak was fired at our aircraft from this field. On the return trip, a large number of enemy staff cars were seen around the large white building at the western edge of the village of Griet. (map ref. E.8672)

The building was attacked and heavily damaged while one staff car burst into flames and one was scored as damaged. Two of our aircraft were slightly damaged by flak. All aircraft returned safely.