PD554

MN482

PD492

MN581

MN547

PD202

MN989

F/L J.E. Hogg

F/O I.W. Smith

F/O B.P. Swingler

F/O P.N. Bernhart

F/L G.L. Burgess

F/O J.G. Fraser

F/O N.H. Rassenti

F/L W.L. Saunders

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10:00

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10:45

Details of Sortie or Flight

F/L Hogg took the Squadron, armed with 1000 lb bombs (fused 11 sec. delay) to carry out an important mission against the canal locks at Snoek, Holland. The purpose of the show was to damage the lock gates so as to impair the use of the network of canals that were connected to the lake known as "Sneeker Meer". The Squadron took off and set course directly to the target. They were given fighter cover by four aircraft from 440 Squadron and also accompanied by four aircraft of 168 Squadron which were to go ahead in an anti-flak role and also to report the state of the canal gates. These latter aircraft did this job, reporting the canal gates open. The Squadron, on approaching the target, spread out in pairs sufficiently far apart to allow the 11 sec. delays to go off without danger to the aircraft following behind. They went in from 4500 feet, diving down at 30 degrees to zero feet and then climbing to port after releasing their bombs. There were one or two overshoots but some bombs found their mark and definitely damaged the gates. Little or no flak was seen. On pulling out, Blue two (F/O J.G. Fraser) was seen streaming glycol and informed on the R/T of this. Shortly after this, he he called up to say he was going to force land which he did successfully. He was seen to land about eight miles south of the target and as the Squadron returned "Johnny" called up to say he was O.K. and that he "would see us sometime". - we hope he will. The Squadron landed at B.80, Volkel, Holland, where they were to bomb up for the next show.

Webmaster's Notes.   As much as possible, every attempt was made to minimize or prevent civilian casualties, but alas, they did occur. What follows is a very rough translation of  how 3 Dutch civilians and one German soldier died as a result of the above mission. The info comes  a Dutch website that commemorated civilian casualties of Allied bombings in the Netherlands. http://www.oorlogsmonumenten.nl/omn/zoeken/monumenten/5811?nav=detail#top

On 11 November 1944 at 9.05 in the morning the Terhornster lock were bombarded by seven Hawker ' Typhoon ' bombers of No. 438 Royal Canadian air Force Squadron, under the guidance of Squadron Leader R.F. Reid and  ' Typhoons ' of No. 439 RCAF Squadron, under the guidance of Flight Lieutenant J.E. Hogg. The machines had a bomb of 454 kilogrammes under each wing. They were escorted by four ' Typhoons ' of No. 440 RCAF Squadron and preceded by four  ????? of No. 168 RAF Squadron. When the first golf locks bombers at arrived, the toestellen in to pair a dive flight commitment. In serials of two boom were thrown off. Approximately a kwartier later arrived the second golf. When the substance had been accelerated, appeared that the western lock was still intact. The Eastern lock had been destroyed, as well as the two lock guard houses. There were four victims: Ms T. Hoekstra-Bergsma (Born  11-05-1889), Ms A. Hoekstra Reidinga (Born  23-10-1906) and Jantje Hoekstra (Born 12-10-1943) and a German soldier.

PD554

MN482

PD452

MN581

MN124

RB202

MN989

F/L J.E. Hogg

F/O I.W. Smith

F/O B.P. Swingler

F/O P.N. Bernhart

F/L C.L. Burgess

F/O J.H. Stitt

F/O N.H. Rassenti

F/L C.E. Lambert

Details of Sortie or Flight

The operation this time was a duplicate of the previous one to Sneek, the target this time being the four sets of gates at the canal locks in north eastern Holland, (Q.0718) our Squadron being allocated the two at the north end and 430 Squadron led by W.C. Fiset, DFC taking the two at the south end.  They took-off from B.80, Holland and once again were led by F/L Hogg and given fighter cover and anti-flak protection by 440 Squadron and 168 Squadron respectively, as before.

Note: The purpose in being re-armed at Volkel was to ensure a safe margin of petrol endurance as the target was close to the maximum operational range from base for a Typhoon. The target was approached as before, each section of two spreading out a safe distance. They went in from the south, diving from 4000 to zero feet. The bombing was quite accurate and the bombs from Red section demolished the northern gates. Blue section then dropped theirs at the south end to ensure they were damaged. The Squadron then formed up and returned to safely to base.

MP151

MN581

MN144

MP145

PD459

MN691

MN537

F/O R.H. Laurence

W/O S.A. Church

F/O J.A. Cote

F/O J.G. Martin

F/O J. Roberts

F/O J. Sweeney

F/L C.A. Lambert

F/O R.A. Hiltz

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16:30

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Details of Sortie or Flight

F/O Laurence led the Squadron on the first rail interdiction show for several days. They too-off with 500 lb bombs and set course for the target which was near the small town of Bectaloo, Holland, on the railway running southeast from Zwello at V.0323  Crossing the Rhine , they were faced by a large bank of cumulus nimbus and stratus cloud and it became necessary to fly above this at a height of 10000 feet. When about five minutes from the target, F/L Lambert developed serious engine trouble and had to return to base, taking F/O Hiltz with him. A large break in the cloud over the target permitted the boys a good dive, rolling from the left and diving from west to east nearly vertical. The first three pairs of bombs were very close, cutting the embankment just to the right, the fourth or fifth set of bombs scored a hit and cut the rail at V.0521. On returning to base Blue two, (F/O Sweeney) reported a train east of Butphen, Holland, however an orbit to the left proved it to be  only a fire near the railway and also encouraged a hail of light and heavy flak to come up from the town. The Squadron hastily left the area and all the planes then returned safely to base.