The report of one operation carried out on the morning of the 17^th, will illustrate the weather conditions with which the pilots had to contend. 

After taking off from base, the formation led by Jimmy
Hogg set course for the target at Almelo, climbing through a layer or cloud. The ground was not sighted again until the Rhine had been crossed when a slight break permitted a quick pinpoint. At estimated time
over the objective another small gap was seen through which the leader and his number two dived to verify their position. Returning to his formation, Hogg altered course towards the target but the clouds became worse and the pilots had to turn back. Catching sight
of a rail line through another small opening, the formation took advantage of the opportunity to prang the rails, getting two or three good hits. With some difficulty because of the clouds the pilots finally reformed and set course for home. 

Intentionally left blank

Intentionally left blank

Over the Rhine they emerged below the clouds only to meet such intense flak that they quickly climbed up again. The sortie lasted 90 minutes, and every one was "exciting".

Under al most identical conditions the next morning a formation led by Chuck Burgess made at least two hits on a target of opportunity, the rail line near Varseveld. Then, despite increasingly bad weather, the pilots found their way home, having better luck than their fighter escort who became lost and eventually had to ask for a homing. 

On the afternoon of the 18^th,, the Tiffies were pleasantly surprised to find the target at Almelo almost clear (only 5/10ths cloud), and another rail cut was added to the tally. But the homeward flight over the steadily thickening clouds was a shaky do, especially for "Wee Willie" Davis who was making his second operational sortie.

After flying for about 15 minutes the pilots estimated that they had crossed the Rhine and began to let down through the clouds. But the headwind was so strong that the aircraft were still on the wrong side of the lines and as they emerged below the clouds near Arnhem they flew into a hail of flak. Davis's Typhoon was hit in the engine, causing an oil leak that finally forced him to crash land below Nijmegen. The other seven pilots landed at base, short of gas and very glad to be home. Davis returned by road the next morning.

(1) Each of the four squadrons in the wing now took turns at making weather recces in the general target area before aircraft took off for operations.

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