December 29/30, 1944


    48 Lancasters from 419, 428, 431, and 434 squadrons were ordered to attack the oil refinery at Scholven/Buer. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 540,000 lb of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered but the refinery was seriously damaged along with serious damage to the Hugo coal mines.

    F/O R. McVicar RCAF and crew, flying Lancaster X  KB-765 coded VR-Q, from 419 squadron, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. J. Feldman, RCAF
      F/O V. Sorrenti, RCAF
      F/Sgt. W. Morgan, RCAF
      P/O T. Maloney, RCAF
      P/O R. Conley, RCAF
      F/Sgt. W. McLeod, RCAF--POW
    One crewmember survived to be a POW and 6 were killed.

    P/O R. Adam RCAF and crew flying Lancaster X  KB-753 coded VR-L, failed to return from this operation. 

      Sgt. R. Eratt, RAF
      P/O L. Wakely, RCAF
      P/O H. Tarzwell, RCAF
      P/O F. Dennis, RCAF
      F/Sgt. J. Rhind, RCAF
      W/O2 R. Rogers, RCAF--POW
    One crewmember was a POW and 6 were killed.

    S/Ldr. G. Gonyou from 428 squadron was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/O G. Pearce had the port outer go u/s outbound. They bombed from 14,500 feet and returned safely to base on 3 engines.

    F/Sgt. V. Murray from 434 squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the port wing.
     
     
     

    6 Halifaxes from 424, 429 and 433 squadrons were ordered on a mining operation to Oslo. The crews were over the garden at 2,000 feet, sowing 24@1500 lb mines. 

    All the crews returned safely to base.
     
     

    149 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 429, 432, and 433 squadrons were ordered to attack the rail yards at Troisdorf. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,500 feet, releasing 1,168,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, much of the bombing missed the target.

    F/O J. McQuiston from 415 squadron returned early as the hydraulics were u/s. They landed safely at Croft.
    S/Ldr J. Hovey, F/Lt C. Thompson, F/Lt J. McAllister, F/Lt J. Northrup, F/O G. Grier, F/O D. Falconer, F/O W. Goodwin, F/O D. Stewart, and F/O J. McGuire landed at Dishforth on return.

    P/O R. MacMillan from 420 squadron had the hydraulics go u/s on return.

    F/O J. Stuart from 424 squadron landed at Linton on Ouse on return.

    W/Cdr. H. Ledoux from 425 squadron returned early as they couldn’t raise the under carriage.
    F/O J. Brassard overshot the runway on return into a ditch. There were no injuries to the crew.

    P/O M. Fraser from 426 squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at Leeming on 3 engines.

    F/Lt. W. Towne from 427 squadron landed at Tholthorpe due to a fuel shortage.

    F/O H. Humphries from 429 squadron landed at Carnaby due to low brake pressure.

    F/O F. Baxter from 432 Squadron was hit by flak on return. The port wing, fuel tanks were holed, port outer and stbd outer engines were u/s. F/O E. Hancox RCAF, the navigator, and P/O G. Barnett RCAF, the bomb aimer were also injured. P/O G. Barnett RCAF, the bomb aimer, bailed out over France. The crew landed safely at Woodbridge on 2 engines.
    W/Cdr R. Davenport, F/O G. Peaker, F/O L. Loppe, and F/O L. McGuire landed at Dishforth on return.