February 13/14, 1945



    115 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 425, 426, 427, 429, and 432 Squadrons were ordered on an attack of the synthetic oil plant at Bohlen. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 588,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports, the target was cloud covered and bombing was scattered.

    F/O R. Hutcheon from 408 Squadron returned early as the port inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O G. Daughters landed at Bungay on return..

    W/O1 A. McDiarmid from 415 Squadron was hit by flak, there were holes in the fuselage and the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at Cambrai on 3 engines.
    F/O R. Evans was hit by flak, there were holes in the stbd wing and fuselage. They landed at Framlingham on return.
    F/O E. Millbank had the stbd outer u/s on return. They landed safely at Nivells on 3 engines.
    F/O J. Hechter landed at Woodbridge on return.
    F/O A. Galley, F/O L. Minkler, F/Lt O. Piper, F/Lt T. Mears, F/Lt A. Winmill, F/Lt J. McQuiston, F/Lt J. Northrup, F/Lt W. Goodwin, F/Lt J. McAllister, F/O D. Stewart, and F/O S. Mooers landed at Framlingham on return.

    P/O R. Sollie from 420 Squadron had the port inner u/s on return. They landed safely at Mendlesham on 3 engines.
    P/O E. Clarke landed at Manston on return.
    F/Lt N. McHolm landed at Juvincourt, France on return due to a fuel shortage.
    P/O T.Ford, F/Lt H. MacGregor, F/Lt M. Davidson, F/O D. Hill, F/O R. Kane, F/Lt V. Glover, P/O J. Menary, F/Lt D. Buchanan, P/O R. MacMillan, F/O S. Young, and P/O C. Reid landed at Mendlesham on return.

    F/O J. St. Laurent and F/Lt C. Lesesne from 425 squadron were hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Halesworth on return.
    F/O G. Lareau landed at Bungey on return.
    P/O W. Corbett, F/Lt J. Sicotte, F/O J. Poirier, F/O J. MacHale, F/O A. Martel, F/O R. Lafreniere, F/O G. Chabot, F/O J. Desbiens, F/O J. Evans, F/O G. Perrier, and F/O J. Bellinger landed at Halesworth on return.

    F/Lt A. Jones from 426 Squadron returned early as the port outer was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O A. Davies returned early as one engine was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    F/O C. Benton and crew, flying Halifax VII LW-203 coded OW-F, were attacked by an ME-109, some strikes were seen on the port wing. They landed at Knettishall on return.
    P/O J. Whipple, F/O W. McLeod, P/O R. Fuller, F/Lt G. Fidler, F/O R. Swift, F/O D. Hamilton, F/O D. Weicker, and F/Lt C. Fyfe landed at Knettishall on return.
     

    F/Lt A. Lock from 427 Squadron landed at Juvincourt, France on return due to a fuel shortage.
    S/Ldr R. Lawlor, F/Lt G. Tegerdine, F/O P. Millard, F/Lt J. Storms, F/Lt G. Archer, F/O N. Roberts, F/Lt W. Britton, F/Lt E. Stewart, F/O T. Wagar, F/O L. Ayers, F/O F. Kaye, F/Lt W. Towne, and F/O J. Mulholland landed at Eye on return.

    F/Lt H. MacDonald from 429 Squadron was attacked by an enemy aircraft, it was claimed damaged.
    F/O A. Cook was hit by flak, not serious.
    F/O R. Pike landed at Manston on return due to a fuel shortage.
    F/Lt P. Robb, S/Ldr H. Peterson, P/O D. Williams, F/Lt J. Creeper, F/Lt D. Magee, F/O J. Brown, F/Lt L. Moffatt, F/O H. Humphries, F/O M. Ages, F/Lt H. Barr, and F/O R. Jones landed at Great Ashfield on return due to fuel shortages.

    P/O J. Daly from 432 Squadron returned early as the stbd inner was u/s. They landed safely at base on 3 engines.
    P/O R. Bradley and F/Lt W. Mennie landed at Tibbenham on return.
    P/O J. Kinniburgh landed at Brussels on return due to a fuel shortage.
    F/Lt E. Maguire landed at Epinoy on return due to a fuel shortage.
     
     

    While the Halifaxes were attacking Bohlen, 67 Lancasters from 419, 424, 428, 431, 433, and 434 Squadrons were ordered to attack Dresden in the 2nd wave. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 21,000 feet, releasing 485,000 lbs of high explosives. According to reports bombing was accurate and a firestorm was started with an extreme loss of life.

    F/O D. Bowes, P/O J. McGregor, P/O J. MacNeil, and F/Lt W. Armstrong from 419 Squadron landed at Sudbury on return due to fuel shortages.

    F/O K. MacDonald from 424 Squadron landed at Hardwick on return due to a fuel shortage.

    F/Lt A. Googe, F/Lt W. Ross, F/Lt R. Swartz, and F/Lt G. Quinn from 428 Squadron landed at Sudbury on return due to fuel shortages.

    F/O H. Granger from 431 Squadron returned early as the navigation aids and rear turret were u/s.
    W/Cdr R. Davenport landed at Sudbury on return due to a fuel shortage.
    F/O G. Glaholt and crew, flying Lancaster X KB-811 coded SE-T, were attacked 3 times by a JU-88, some strikes were seen, it was claimed damaged on the last pass.

    F/O G. Walton, P/O J. O’Neil, F/O W. Simpson, and F/O A. Heathcote from 433 Squadron landed at Hardwick on return due to fuel shortages.

    P/O C. Ferris from 434 squadron was hit by flak, not serious. They landed at Snetterton Heath on return due to a fuel shortage.
    P/O F. Hart and F/Lt G. Eccelstone landed at Snetterton Heath on return due to fuel shortages.