MN692

MN869

MN482

MN144

MN581

MP145

MN894

RB198

PD478

F/O R.H. Laurence

P/O S. Angelini

F/O W.G. Davis

F/O W. Anderson

F/O J. Carr

P/O  A.E. Derouin

F/O J. Roberts

F/O A.C. McBride

F/O J.H. Stitt

P/O B.E. Bell

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Fighter Cover

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11:30

11:30

11:50

11:50

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Details of Sortie or Flight

A long spell of inactivity was broken this morning when F/O  Laurence led the squadron with 500 lb bombs (.025 tail fused) on another railroad prang. Taking-off and climbing, the Squadron set course for target a point about seven miles east of Bocholt, Germany. The squadron climbed to 11000 feet and then  did a gentle descent all the way to target, gaining speed all the time in an effort to throw off the flak predictors, this seemed quite effective as no heavy flak was encountered at all.

On the way out Red Two (F/O Angelini) had engine trouble so was forced to return, Red Three returned with him to give him any necessary assistance. The dive was done from 7000 down to 2000 feet going from east to west. The bombing was quite accurate with one direct at A.303604 and two other pairs very close, probably cutting the embankment at A.298604. After pulling up and reforming, the Squadron did a short recce looking for targets to shoot up. North of Coesfeld, Germany, a train was caught going north at map reference *.7498  Blue Flight was left to orbit while Red one and two went down to attack it. The engine was left smoking and steaming! Then the train stopped and it was interesting to note that the train was pulling about ten burnt out engines. the formation then returned safely with its two Fighter Cover.

MN360

MN438

MP145

PD584

*****

JR506

MN869

RB198

MN894

F/O J. Carr

P/O A.E. Derouin

F/O J. Sweeney

F/O A.C. McBride

F/O ***********

P/O W. Anderson

F/O R.H. Laurence

P/O S. Angelini

F/O J.H. Stitt

F/L J.A. Cote

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Fighter Escort

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14:35

14:30

Details of Sortie or Flight

Webmasters note....this entry extremely difficult to decipher due to the illegibility of the copy

The target this time was the railway running between *******, Holland and Rheine, Germany at V.5602 and was out at a point four miles east of *****, Germany. F/O John Carr ******** carrying 500 lb. bombs (.025 tail fused). The trip to the target was quite routine, but once over the area the cloud base was down to *** feet. This necessitated flying below 6000 feet, however  **** approach and dive onto the target. The dive was from east to west and a little shallow because of the height; one pair of bombs scored a direct hit at V.609008 definitely cutting the rail, another pair cutting the rail at V.397010 . Fighter cover was taken and during the trip out, Yellow two (F/L Cote) received some unique attention from an Allied Mustang which followed him for some time  and then fired  just as F/L Cote dived; a few strikes were made, one cutting his airline, the other his hydraulics. He managed to return and lower his undercarriage  and carried out a successful flapless landing, running off the end of the runway for lack of brakes. All aircraft returned safely.

MN432

RB198

MN691

RB461

RB470

MN248

MN348

F/L R.G. Crosby

F/O W. Anderson

F/O R.H. Laurence

P/O S. Angelini

F/O L.G. Shaver

F/O J. Sweeney

F/O J. Roberts

P/O A.C. McBride

Details of Sortie or Flight

The Squadron took to the sky with 500 lb bombs (.025 tail fused) led by F/L Crosby, to cut the railway running north from Wesel, Germany, and parallel to the Rhine. The squadron set course and climbed to 9000 feet, then began a let-down, gaining speed and levelling off at about 8000 feet. The railway was approached at right angles with the two flights line abreast. When the leader began his dive, Blue Flight also commenced an independent dive  and thus the whole Squadron had bombed in the same time that four aircraft would take in the other method. This approach seemed quite good and it is the intention to develop this technique for bombing railways. The railway was hit in one place at least at A.070382 and possibly at A.090565; one pair of bombs fell to the left into the little village of Haldern, Germany and left, what looks like a small factory smoking. The squadron reformed and all landed safely at base.